



I 




fr: 


- <* 




COHVHIGHT DEPOSIT. 



























« 


✓ 


































THE HEALTH BOOK 



THE HEALTH BOOK 


BY 


ROYAL S. COPELAND, M.D. 

FORMERLY COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, NEW YORK CITY 



NEW YORK 

AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, Inc. 
1924 



Copyright, 1924, by 
ROYAL 8. COPELAND, M.D. 


Printed in the United States of America 

APR ^31924 

©C1A702091 -V 


PREFACE 


TT should be a part of everybody’s training to know wbat 
* to do in the common accidents and medical emergencies. 
Many a life has been saved through promptly applied, yet 
simple, treatment given by a layman. Many a life has been 
lost because fright and lack of knowledge prevented effective 
action at the critical time. 

It is the purpose of this book to tell in simple language 
how to relieve pain and what to do to prevent or to cure 
some of the many ailments which are liable to invade every 
home. I shall hope to explain how to meet the simple acci¬ 
dents, the sudden emergencies of factory, farm, and house¬ 
hold, which are sometimes appalling if you don’t know what 
to do. 

I shall be glad if I can lessen the terror of the family and 
promote the comfort of the afflicted. By giving advice as to 
how to proceed in case of trouble perhaps I may be able to 
add to human happiness. For many years I have been striv¬ 
ing to do this through my work as a medical teacher, as a 
health commissioner, as a health lecturer, and in my daily 
newspaper articles on health. 

Much of the material in this book has appeared in my 
writings for the Newspaper Feature Service. It is by the 
courtesy of this organization that I am permitted to collect 
these articles and to present them in this more permanent 
form. 

The book contains some of the things I have learned 
through years of medical practice. They are just the things 
other doctors have learned, hut have not had the inclination 
to record. 

In Part One are included the emergencies you are liable 
to meet. These are listed alphabetically. In the box at the 


VI 


PEEFACE 


beginning of each subject you find what to do in the emer¬ 
gency. Then follows a more or less detailed account of the 
nature and treatment of the trouble. 

Part Two is devoted to the common ailments. It is in¬ 
tended to give you such knowledge of each disease as a lay¬ 
man should have. 

Part Three includes a lot of general information which 
every person, especially every parent, should possess. , 

At the close of the book is a carefully prepared index 
which should give you ready access to the material in the 
pages. 

I recommend that you read the book from cover to cover. 
Then you will know what it contains and, in emergency, will 
know where to turn for advice. May I suggest in all mod¬ 
esty that scattered through the pages are bits of advice 
which, if followed, will add years to your life? 

My last suggestion is this: Please do not think, because 
you have the book, that you can give up your doctor. You 
can’j; do this. You should have his personal advice. Let him 
be your guide, counselor, and friend. Perhaps by studying 
the book you can be helpful to him and in some ways lighten 
his burdens. But you will need the doctor and should call 
him when you have the slightest doubt of what your sick 
ones require. 



CONTENTS 


PART I—EMERGENCIES 


Appendicitis .... 
Asphyxia, or Strangulation . 

Asthma. 

Bites and Stings op Insects . 
Bites of Dogs and Other Animals 

Black Eye. 

Bleeding, or Hemorrhage 
Boils and Carbuncles 
Breast Pang, or Angina Pectoris 
Broken Bones .... 


Bronchitis, Acute Catarrhal 
Bruises and Bumps . 

Burns . 

Chills and Colds 
Choking .... 

Colic in Children 
Convulsions in Children . 

Cramps. 

Croup . 

Cuts and Tears . 

Diarrhea .... 

Dislocations 

Drowning and Artificial Respiration 
Ear and Nose, Insects and Foreign Bodies 
Earache .... 

Electrical Shock 
Eye, Foreign Body in the 
Fainting .... 

Feet, Sore and Blistered 
Fever Blisters . 

Filth Conditions 

Fits. 

Foreign Bodies in the Skin 
Fracture of the Skull . 

Frost-bite, or Chilblains 
Gunshot Wounds 
Head, Pain in the 
Heartburn, or Hyperacidity 


n THE 


PAGE 


vii 


C£)0COCOOODQOQOOO<l<l<l^OiOia>CnOlOlOl)^^^^COCOCOCOtOMlOMHMH 

QDO^MOQOClCOHGOOlWH^^HGDai^MGDOlt^WCOOlWMH^MQDajCOMODCnW 











CONTENTS 


viii 

PAGE 

Hiccough.101 

Hoarseness, or Laryngitis.103 

Indigestion, or Dyspepsia . 106 

Intestinal Obstruction.109 

Ivy Poison .Ill 

Lockjaw, or Tetanus.113 

Lumbago, or Backache.116 

Lungs, Foreign Bodies in the.118 

Menstruation, Difficult.120 

Nosebleed.122 

Paralysis, or Apoplexy.125 

Pinkeye and Acute Conjunctivitis.128 

Poisoning.130 

Poisoning, Food or Ptomaine.133 

Seasickness.136 

Shock.139 

Snake Bite .Ill 

Sore Throat.143 

Sprains and Strains.146 

Stunned, What to Do When.148 

Styes.150 

Sunburn.153 

Sunstroke.155 

Swallowing a Foreign Body.158 

Toothache .... *.160 

Vertigo, or Dizziness.163 

Vomiting, Violent and Repeated.165 

PART II—COMMON AILMENTS 

Adenoids.169 

Anemia and Chlorosis.171 

Arthritis, or Inflamed Joints.175 

Baldness in Men.178 

Biliousness.180 

Blackheads, or Acne.182 

Bright’s Disease and the Kidneys.185 

Bronchitis and Bronchial Asthma.188 

Bunions and Bursitis.191 

Car Sickness.194 

Catarrh, Nasal.196 

Chicken-pox, or Varicella.199 

Cold, Why We Should Not Neglect a Common .... 201 

Colitis, Mucous.206 

Constipation.209 

Corns and Callouses ..213 

Coryza, Acute.215 





































CONTENTS 


ix 

PAGK 

Cough, Dry.217 

Deafness.219 

Diabetes.221 

Diphtheria.226 

Eczema.230 

Epilepsy.234 

Erysipelas, or St. Anthony's Fire.236 

Flat-foot, or Pes Planus.239 

Gall-stones.241 

Gangrene and Bed-sores.*246 

Goiter.248 

Gout.251 

Granulated Eyelids, or Trachoma.253 

Habit Spasms.255 

Hardening of the Arteries, or Arteriosclerosis . . . 257 

Hay Fever .260 

Headaches, Causes and Kinds of.262 

Hives and Other Skin Troubles Due to Food and Drug 

Poisoning.266 

Hypochondriasis, or “Imaginitis”.269 

Influenza.271 

Insomnia.273 

Itching, or Pruritus.276 

Jaundice.278 

Leucorrhea, or Whites.280 

Malaria.282 

Mastoid Disease.284 

Measles.286 

Mumps.288 

Nervous Breakdown, or Neurasthenia.291 

Neuritis.293 

Piles, or Hemorrhoids.297 

Pleurisy and Empyema.301 

Pneumonia.303 

Rheumatism.305 

Rheumatism in Children.307 

Rickets, or Rhachitis.309 

Ringworm, Barber’s Itch, and Favus.311 

St. Vitus’s Dance, or Chorea.314 

Salivation.316 

Scarlet Fever.318 

Sciatica.321 

Shingles, or Herpes Zoster.323 

Sleep-walking, or Somnambulism.326 

Snoring.328 

Stammering and Other Speech Defects.330 

Teeth, Caries, and Pyorrhea.332 

Thyroid Gland and Myxedema.336 

































CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Toe-nail, Ingrowing.338 

Tonsils, Enlarged.340 

Tuberculosis.342 

Tumors.345 

Typhoid Fever.347 

Ulcer of the Stomach.351 

Varicose Veins and Ruptured Blood-vessels .... 354 

Warts and Moles.357 

Whooping-cough.359 

Worms.361 

PART III—GENERAL ADVICE 

When to Call the Doctor.367 

General Advice in First Aid . . . . . . . .370 

Care of the Sick at Home.375 

Transporting the Helpless.378 

Examining the Urine. 380 

Prenatal Instruction. 382 

Feeding and Care of the Baby.384 

Disinfection and Fumigation.391 

Adolescence.394 

Menopause, or Change of Life.398 

Ductless Glands.401 

Care of the Face.404 

Care of Women's Hair.407 

Right Living.409 


Index 


415 
























PART I 

EMERGENCIES 

















APPENDICITIS 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Send for the doctor at once. 

2. Give a rectal injection of warm, soapy water. 

3. Apply large ice-packs to the abdomen. 

4. If ice is not at hand, apply a compress of cold water, 
changing frequently. 


T HE appendix is located on the right side of the abdomen. 

It is about half-way between the hip and the navel bone. 
In this region is usually noted the first symptom of appen¬ 
dicitis. This may be a feeling of discomfort, or it may be 
actual pain. There is apt to be tenderness on pressure. 
Very quickly the pain becomes excruciatingly severe. In 
many instances the pain is not limited to the region of the 
appendix, but is distributed over the entire abdomen. 

Not every stomach-ache, even when the pain is in this 
location, is necessarily a sign of appendicitis. We suffer 
from fads, even in disease. Appendicitis is not so fashion¬ 
able now as it used to be, and its prevalence is not so great 
as many would have us believe. 

Pain alone is not enough to determine the presence of the 
disease. Neither is tenderness on pressure a dependable 
sign. But if to these symptoms are added a few others, in¬ 
cluding rigidity, or hardness, or tenderness of the muscles of 
the abdominal walls, the condition is probably appendicitis. 

Usually the patient is constipated and suffers from loss 
of appetite. Pretty soon there are nausea and vomiting, as 
well as abdominal discomfort. 

While lying in bed, the victim draws up the right leg to 
remove pressure from the sore side. Coughing and deep 
breathing make the pain worse. 

The attack may or may not start with a chill, but there 
3 



4 


APPENDICITIS 


is more or less fever from the beginning. The temperature 
may run to 103 degrees, or even higher. 

If the symptoms lead you to believe that the trouble is 
appendicitis, you will send for your doctor at once. While 
waiting for him, the patient should be put to bed and kept 
absolutely still. 

Appendicitis is usually due to weakened resistance. Late 
hours, excesses in eating and drinking, constipation, expo¬ 
sure, overwork, worry, a run-down condition—one or all of 
these may cause a lowering of the powers of resistance 
against disease. The next step may be an infection with 
some inflammation-producing or pus-producing germ. Just 
what form the trouble takes will depend on the organ which 
happens to be attacked. If it is the appendix, we have the 
beginning of appendicitis. 

Ice-packs—large quantities of ice—should be applied to 
the abdomen. If a supply of ice is not within reach, apply 
cold-water compresses, using a large towel or a large piece 
of flannel. Change often enough to keep the compresses cold. 
Do not give a cathartic or a rectal injection. 

When the diagnosis of appendicitis has been confirmed by 
the doctor, the question of operation will be determined by 
the progress of the case and the general condition of the 
patient. If the sufferer grows worse, or if the presence of a 
tumor indicates pus formation, operation will be required. 

Fortunately most cases of appendicitis recover without 
operation. Even if you have to be taken to the operating 
room, the chances are very, very favorable for a happy re¬ 
covery. The condition is not commonly met with after the 
age of twenty-five. 

(See also Constipation; Indigestion.) 


ASPHYXIA, OR STRANGULATION 


(known also as suffocating, smothering, stifling, 
or throttling) 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Send for the doctor. 

2. Make sure that there is no foreign substance in the 
throat and that the nostrils are clear. 

3. Pull the tongue forward. 

4. Remove tight clothing, especially around the neck. 

5. Perform artificial respiration, as for drowning. (See 
chapter on Drowning, Part I.) 

6. If the victim is a child, mouth-to-mouth inflation may 
be tried. Place a coarse gauze over his mouth and 
blow air into the lungs. Then expel it by pressure 
on the chest. Keep this up fifteen or sixteen times 
a minute. 

7. After breathing has been restored, relieve the head¬ 
ache by applying an ice-pack or cold-water com¬ 
presses to the forehead. 


I N drowning, hanging, and exposure to dense smoke we 
have conditions in which lack of air, or of pure air, pro¬ 
duces loss of consciousness. The skin is livid, the veins stand 
out, the heart action grows weak and weaker. There is gasp¬ 
ing for breath, and very soon the heart ends its efforts. The 
victim dies. 

You must never jump at the conclusion that nothing can 
be done. Even though the pulse cannot be felt or the heart 
heard, there is always the hope that resuscitation can be 
accomplished. 

Suppose you are called upon to help care for a suffocat¬ 
ing person. What are you to do? 

Make sure there is no foreign substance in the throat. 

5 



6 ASPHYXIA, OR STRANGULATION 

Pull the tongue forward and see that the nostrils are clear. 
Remove tight clothing, especially around the neck. 

While you are performing artificial respiration, as in 
drowning (see chapter on Drowning, Part I), you must keep 
the victim warm by covering with a blanket. Sometimes 
rectal injections of warm coffee will produce useful stimu¬ 
lation. 

If the patient is a young child, the old-fashioned method 
of mouth-to-mouth inflation may do good. Place a piece of 
coarse gauze over the victim’s mouth and blow air into the 
lungs. Then expel it by pressure on the chest. This should 
be kept up fifteen or sixteen times per minute. 

If a body is cut down after a hanging, the application of 
cold water to the head and neck may stimulate breathing. 
The same method used in reviving a drowned person should 
be employed. 

Asphyxiation from smoke is quite common in cities where 
fires are frequent. What the smoke will do depends to a 
great extent upon the material which is on fire. For instance, 
burning rags, wet hay, paper, varnish, and lumber make a 
smoke which is very irritating and difficult to endure. Tar 
and pitch are less disturbing. When the smoke is mixed with 
fumes of chemicals it is very damaging to human beings who 
are caught in it. 

At first there are choking, dizziness, sickness at the 
stomach, and severe headache. Coughing, vomiting, and vio¬ 
lent action of the heart are other symptoms. The eyes burn 
and run water. Then there is loss of consciousness. 

Carry the victim to a safe place, loosen the clothing and 
collar, keep him warm, and, if necessary, use artificial res¬ 
piration as for drowning. (See chapter on Drowning, Part I.) 

Do not try to pour water or a stimulant down the throat 
of an unconscious person. It may cause choking and 
suffocation. It may also get into the lungs and cause pneu¬ 
monia. 

After the breathing is restored, relieve the headache by 
applying an ice-pack or cold-water compresses to the fore¬ 
head. 


7 


ASPHYXIA, OR STRANGULATION 

The cough and resulting bronchitis, as well as the irri¬ 
tated eyes, will require appropriate treatment for a few 
days. 

In poisoning from illuminating gas, almost the same 
procedure is demanded as for the treatment of drowning or 
smoke asphyxiation. If an oxygen tank can he procured, 
it should be used, if there is any breathing at all. If not, 
then artificial respiration should he resorted to as in drown¬ 
ing. (See chapter on Drowning, Part I.) 

The pulmotor and lung motor are kept by gas companies 
and hospitals within reach in the cities. The work of resus¬ 
citation is most successfully done by them. 

(See also Drowning .) 


ASTHMA 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Have the sufferer inhale the fumes from burning blot¬ 
ting paper which has been dipped in a solution of 
saltpeter, or breathe the fumes from an amyl nitrite 
pearl broken in a handkerchief. 

2. A cup of strong hot coffee may ward off the attack. 

3. Steam inhalation, hot drinks, and a hot foot-bath may 
control. (See chapter on Bronchitis and Bronchial 
Asthma, Part II.) 

4. Give plenty of fresh air. 


3THMA is a peculiar and unexplainable thing. There 



are two cities sixteen miles apart. A man nearly dies 
of asthma while he lives in one city and never has it when 
he is in the other. 

Certain odors, possibly the pollen of some plants, violent 
emotions, and certain foods will bring on attacks. 

In medicine we speak of “neuroses.” This word is the 
plural of “neurosis.” A neurosis is a disease or abnormal 
condition of some part of the nervous system. But, unlike 
most diseases, there is no apparent change in the structure 
or appearance of the affected part. 

In the eye there is a condition where there is blindness 
without apparent reason. This may be a neurosis. 

One may have severe pain in the arm or elsewhere with 
no observable or discoverable cause. This may be a neurosis. 

There may be difficulty in breathing, tightness across the 
chest, and all the uncomfortable symptoms of asthma, with¬ 
out apparent cause. So asthma may be a neurosis. 

Many asthmatic patients, however, have exciting causes 
which can be found and removed. 

For instance, nasal trouble is responsible for many cases. 




ASTHMA 


9 


On each side of the nose there are three bony shelves. These 
bones are covered with a thick layer of mucous membrane, 
and each velvety encased shelf is called a 4 ‘ turbinate. ’’ 
Sometimes there may be undue thickening of the mucous 
membrane, obstruction of the nasal passages, or pressure on 
the delicate tissues, and, as a result, asthma may develop. 
With each cold or aggravation of the nasal trouble, asthmatic 
attacks will be precipitated. 

Sneezing, running of the nose, and a stopped-up feeling 
in it may precede the real attack of asthma. 

In other cases there will be found in the nose a polypus 
or other growth. This must be removed before the asthma 
can be cured. 

The odors of some plants or the emanations from cer¬ 
tain animals may bring on an attack. Asthma is like hay 
fever in this respect and, indeed, in many other ways. The 
pollen of flowers may carry the irritating substance. 

Some cases appear to be brought on by eating particular 
kinds of food. This is particularly true of asthma in chil¬ 
dren. 

Acute bronchitis, adenoids, and various heart troubles 
may have asthma as one of the symptoms. 

When once this condition has shown itself, it is very apt 
to be repeated. The attacks increase in frequency and vio¬ 
lence. Indeed, they may appear at more or less regular 
periods during an entire lifetime. 

In the treatment of asthma it is necessary to find out 
exactly what is responsible for the attacks. This is no easy 
task. 

The diet must be studied to find what particular article 
of food, or what particular sort of a meal, is productive of 
trouble. A heavy meal at night may not agree with the 
patient. Study of this factor must go forward with patience 
until the best method of eating has been found. The stomach 
and bowels, unless they function correctly, may be the seat 
of trouble. 

Various drugs have been employed to relieve the attacks. 
Some of these are administered by burning and permitting 


10 


ASTHMA 


the sufferer to breathe the smoke. One remedy used for this 
purpose is saltpeter. Blotting-paper is dipped in the solu¬ 
tion, and this is called ‘ 4 niter-paper . 9 9 The fumes from 
burning this may give immediate, but temporary, relief in 
an attack. 

Sometimes a large cup of strong coffee will ward off an 
attack. It should be taken clear and as hot as possible. If 
able to do so, the patient should get out of bed after taking 
the coffee, and try reading something interesting. In for¬ 
getting it he may get rid of the asthma. 

Narcotic drugs should never be employed unless pre¬ 
scribed by a physician. They are rarely needed in this con¬ 
dition. 

The doctor should be permitted to make a thorough ex¬ 
amination to see if all the organs are normal. He will be 
needed, too, to remove the nasal difficulty, if one is found. 
The patient should avoid dust and all violent exertion, and 
should have an abundance of fresh air, day and night. 

Medical science has demonstrated the use of vaccines 
made from the pollen of flowers and from certain foodstuffs 
which have been found to be the underlying causes of the 
attacks. When once the doctor has determined that the 
pollen of some flower or some article of food is responsible 
for asthma, great relief can be obtained from inoculations 
with the particular preparation. 

(See also Adenoids; Bronchitis and Bronchial Asthma.) 


BITES AND STINGS OF INSECTS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. If stung by a spider, bee, hornet, centipede, or other 
insect, first remove the sting from the wound, if pos¬ 
sible, using a watch-key, as for blackheads. (See 
chapter 1 on Blackheads, Part I.) 

2. Apply ammonia, vinegar, camphor, lemon-juice, oil, 
or soda. 


T NSECTS of air and grass, of vine and tree, are always 
* watchful and ready to attack the unsuspecting. The most 
common of these pests is the mosquito. 

This insect is bad enough anyhow, but, unfortunately, 
under certain conditions the mosquito may carry malaria or 
yellow fever. We will not, however, consider him now as a 
carrier of serious disease, but will regard him merely as 
one of the hindrances to happiness in summer-time. 

Gnats, certain flies, and other winged insects are dis¬ 
agreeable visitors during this season of the year. 

All sorts of prescriptions have been given to ward off 
these insect pests. Tobacco smoke, smudges of various 
kinds, vile-smelling compounds, pennyroyal, and other odor¬ 
ous materials are used for this purpose. Vaseline, cold- 
cream, or other grease may be smeared on the skin to pro¬ 
tect against the biting of the insects. Carbolized vaseline 
and tar ointment have been employed for the same purpose. 

When the insects have actually bitten the victim, there 
is considerable itching, burning, and smarting. To give re¬ 
lief from the itching, ammonia may be applied. Carbolized 
salve or vinegar may help. Camphor and lemon-juice are 
other remedies. 

Besides the insects that bite, there are others that sting. 

11 



12 BITES AND STINGS OF INSECTS 

Spiders, bees, hornets, caterpillars, beetles, centipedes, and 
scorpions are among such pests. 

It will help a lot if the sting can be removed from the 
wound. Use a watch-key as in blackheads. (See chapter on 
Blackheads, Part II.) Then ammonia or one of the other 
remedies may be applied. Salt will help sometimes. It 
should be rubbed into the stung surface. 

Oil and soda are other remedies. A very excellent appli¬ 
cation is hyposulphite of soda, one teaspoonful to an ounce 
of water. This may be applied repeatedly and will stop the 
itching in many cases. 

Bed-bugs, fleas, and lice are other unwelcome visitors. 
Their bites may be taken care of in the same way as mos¬ 
quito bites or bee stings. 

I do not believe in living in constant fear of attack, but 
it is well to be on guard against the insect pests. To this 
end, every house should be screened. It is unsanitary and 
dangerous, too, to permit flies and other insects to attack 
the human dwellers. There is always the chance of carrying 
disease in this manner. 

Attend to the wounds acquired this way as you would 
other wounds. In short, then, try to dodge the insect’s bite 
and do not neglect a bite if you are a victim. 


BITES OF DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Paint the wound with a seven per cent solution of 
iodine. If deep, swab it out with iodine on a bit of 
wet absorbent cotton wound around a sharp stick. 

2. Wash the wound out with bicarbonate of soda solu¬ 
tion, or peroxide, or boiled water. 

3. Cover with several layers of sterilized gauze and 
bandage. In the absence of sterilized water and 
gauze, use the cleanest water possible and a clean 
handkerchief. 

4. Consult the doctor. 

5. If the bite is by a dog or other animal suspected of 
having rabies, you must first tie a cord or string 
around the bitten limb above the wound, and twist 
tight with a stick. This acts as a tourniquet. 

6. Then use carbolic acid as a caustic. In applying the 
acid you must be very careful not to burn the surrounding 
flesh , and to protect fully you may smear vaseline on 
the surrounding skin. Use a toothpick or very sharply 
pointed stick. Wr'ap the point of this with sterilized 
cotton, dip this in pure carbolic acid, and, holding the 
stick very straight so that only the point will touch, 
thrust the point for an instant into the wound. 

7. Lose no time in consulting the doctor about the 
“Pasteur treatment.” 


T T is not uncommon for man to be bitten by an animal. 
* This experience is of little importance if the tissues are 
merely squeezed, or if the skin is unbroken. There may be 
soreness, a black-and-blue condition, and some discomfort, 
but the symptoms disappear spontaneously. 

Geese, roosters, horses, other domestic animals, and rats 
and mice may attack a member of the human family and 

13 




14 BITES OF DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS 

cause painful wounds. If the animal is healthy, the same 
treatment given any other similar wound of the skin is indi* 
cated. It is quite another story if the animal has rabies. 

Rabies, as it is known in animals, and hydrophobia, as it 
is called in man, are one and the same condition. The germ 
is carried by the saliva and enters the skin through the torn 
or lacerated surface where the bite is received. 

While the dog is the chief carrier, the germ may be found 
in cattle, cats, horses, sheep, pigs, wolves, and goats. It is 
apt to be fatal, whether it attacks man or one of the lower 
animals. 

Fortunately, not every person bitten by a rabid dog con¬ 
tracts rabies. Indeed, only about fifteen per cent take it, 
but every person bitten by a rabid animal should be treated. 
Every sick dog should be handled with care; because its 
tongue may carry the dread germs of hydrophobia. 

It takes about three weeks for the symptoms to appear. 
It may require less time than this, or the attack may be de¬ 
layed for several months. 

The primary wound heals promptly and, except at the 
point of entrance of the poison, has little part in the further 
and serious symptoms. There may be some local irritation 
at the seat of the bite, and possibly some pain and discom¬ 
fort. But the beginning symptoms of the real trouble are 
the depression and gloom of the victim. He has a feeling of 
illness, headache, loss of sleep and of appetite, and some 
fever. 

Then comes the stage of excitement. The patient may 
have attacks of raving and violent outbreaks. This stage 
lasts two or three days. There are spasms of the throat. 
On attempting to swallow water the spasms grow greatly 
worse. This is why the hydrophobia patient fears the sight 
of water. 

Next comes the stage of paralysis. The heart grows weak 
and the patient may die in a few hours. 

If bitten by a dog or other animal suspected of being 
mad, you should try to stop the flow of blood back into the 
body from the wound, by tying a string, or anything at hand, 


BITES OF DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS 15 

immediately about the part above the wound. If the bite is 
on a limb, this will be an easy matter. Tighten the string 
by twisting with a stick stuck under it. Of course, if you 
have a tourniquet, use it. Then make the wound bleed 
thoroughly by stretching it open and squeezing it. Dip a 
sharpened stick, with absorbent cotton wound around the 
end, into pure carbolic acid and swab out the wound with it, 
being extremely careful not to burn the surrounding skin. 
To further protect this, vaseline may be smeared on around 
the wound. 

After this local treatment has been administered, the vic¬ 
tim should be taken somewhere to get the Pasteur treatment 
as soon as possible. Every large city has its Pasteur Insti¬ 
tute. The treatment takes twenty-one days. If a Pasteur 
Institute is not accessible, application should be made to the 
City or State Health Department for an outfit which will 
enable the local physician to apply the treatment at home. 

It is the solemn duty of the authorities to see that dogs 
are kept under control. England has demonstrated the pos¬ 
sibility of wiping out rabies and hydrophobia by enforcing 
its dog law. 


BLACK EYE 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Apply cold compresses or ice. Repeat for ten min¬ 
utes every half-hour until the swelling goes down. 

2. Two days later begin massaging with cocoa butter 
or cold cream. 


T HERE are certain human afflictions which are the sub¬ 
ject of infinite jest. One of these is a black eye. 

“How does the other fellow look?” “How did you get it? 
Running into the door, I suppose! Ha! Ha!” 

These are among the familiar greetings of Main Street. 
I know because I was brought up there and had many a 
blackened eye. 

The tissues of the eyelids and cheek are very soft and 
tender. They overlie a ridge of hard bone, the edge of the 
orbit which holds the eyeball. The skin and soft tissues of 
this region are richly supplied with blood-vessels. 

You can see that all the conditions are favorable for 
trouble. A blow with the fist, running against a door or 
other hard object, or stooping over and striking the corner 
of a chair—any one of these accidents will pinch the skin and 
underlying blood-vessels. 

The tissues are caught between the external object and 
the sharp ridge of bone. The blood-vessel is crushed as it 
would be with pinchers. It is no wonder the delicate wall 
is broken, permitting the blood to ooze into the soft tissues 
surrounding it. 

This accident produces the same condition we find in the 
skin anywhere else following a bruise. There it is a black- 
and-blue spot. When this happens around the eye it is called 
a black eye. 

Doctors give this a big name—“ecchymosis of the lids.” 
16 



BLACK EYE 17 

All this means is that you have a collection of blood in the 
connective tissue, the soft tissue of the eyelids. 

The length of time the discoloration will last depends on 
the amount of blood escaping from the damaged vessel. 
Usually it requires from one to two weeks for absorption to 
take place. The black-and-blue stain may continue for a 
month. 

If you get a blow in the eye, it is well to apply cold water 
almost continuously for an hour or so. This retards the 
bleeding and reduces the quantity of blood oozing into the 
tissues. Diluted witch-hazel may be used instead of plain 
water. Lead-water and laudanum mixture is a favorite 
household remedy for black eye. 

When all danger of further bleeding has passed, mas¬ 
sage is helpful. You can see that this should not be applied 
at once, because it would break the clot and bring on renewed 
bleeding. But after a couple of days, it may be begun. Apply 
a little cocoa butter or cold cream and gently manipulate the 
discolored part. 

For cosmetic reasons, or to spare yourself ridicule, you 
may paint the surface. A stick of paste-paint, such as is 
used by actors, may be employed to smear the surface and 
hide the discoloration. 

It is unwise to cut the skin to remove the blood, or to 
apply a leach. If the surface is broken in this way, it may 
become infected and cause a lot of trouble. 


BLEEDING, OB HEMORRHAGE 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Send for the doctor at once. 

2. Wash your own hands with soap and water, clean 
your finger-nails, and wash your hands again. 

3. If bleeding can be controlled by firm pressure from 
a pad of gauze, plug the wound with strips of steri¬ 
lized gauze, and apply a pad of the gauze and a band¬ 
age to hold the pad in place. If sterilized gauze is 
not at hand, use the cleanest linen available. 

4. If bleeding cannot be controlled in this way, apply a 
tourniquet between the wound and the heart. If you 
have no tourniquet at hand, a neck-tie, a shoe-string, 
a handkerchief, or a strong string will serve. Place 
a pad made of a piece of wood or a flat stone (dropped 
in boiling water, if possible), or a clean rolled-up 
handkerchief, over the injured blood-vessel two 
inches from the wound. Tie the band around the 
limb and over this pad. Insert a stick and turn it 
around, twisting the band and causing it to press the 
pad into the tissues over the bleeding vessel. 

5. Do not keep the tourniquet tightened too long. If 
hours must elapse before the doctor is seen, loosen it 
occasionally, and if the bleeding stops, remove it. 


E VERYBODY is afraid of blood. Its appearance frightens 
the injured person, and it may cause some of the on¬ 
lookers to turn faint. We have an inborn fear of this vital 
fluid. 

You know there are two kinds of blood-vessels—arteries 
and veins. When an artery of considerable size is cut, the 
blood is brilliant red in color. It may flow in a steady stream, 
or come in jets, corresponding to the pulsations of the heart. 
The blood from a large vein is very dark red and may 

18 




BLEEDING, OR HEMORRHAGE 19 

be almost black in color. It is likely to flow in a steady 
stream. 

When a large vessel, whether a vein or an artery, is cut, 
the bleeding may cause death in a very short time. Fortu¬ 
nately, the fright caused by the sight of blood is enough to 
produce fainting. In this state the heart’s action is very 
weak, the flow of blood is decreased, and it becomes clotted, 
ending the bleeding. 

A clean cut across a blood-vessel is more serious than a 
ragged and bruised wound. In the latter clotting is more 
rapid. In the former the bleeding will continue until proper 
treatment is applied. 

The effects of severe bleeding are pronounced. Buzzing 
in the ears, blurring of vision, dizziness, cold sweat, white¬ 
ness of face and lips, restlessness, rapid pulse, and shallow 
breathing are among the symptoms. 

When there has been serious bleeding and by reason of 
care or good fortune a clot forms, the danger is not past. 
A blow or sudden movement may displace the clot and cause 
renewal of the hemorrhage. 

It is not necessary to have a large wound to produce 
serious bleeding. I recall a case where, as a result of a 
chemical laboratory explosion, a tiny piece of metal was 
blown through the skin and the wall of the large blood-vessel 
in the groin. With very little external evidence of hemor¬ 
rhage, so much blood escaped into the soft tissues as to cause 
the death of the boy. 

You can see that every case of bleeding is associated with 
unpleasant possibilities. It is well, therefore, to know ex¬ 
actly what to do to control hemorrhage. 

Everybody knows that a tight band around the limb, be¬ 
tween the wound and the heart, will control the bleeding from 
an artery. This device is called a ‘ ‘ tourniquet. ’ ’ A neck-tie, 
a shoe-string, a handkerchief, a napkin, a piece of rope, or 
of strong twine will serve this useful purpose. A piece of 
wood, a flat stone, or a rolled-up handkerchief will make a 
suitable pad to place over the injured blood-vessel a couple 
of inches or more from the wound. The constricting band is 


20 BLEEDING, OR HEMORRHAGE 

tied around the limb and over the pad. This can be drawn 
tight by inserting a stick and turning it round and round, 
thus twisting the band and causing it to press the pad more 
and more into the tissues over the bleeding vessel. 

At this time I wish to warn you of what may happen if 
this constriction is continued too long. It is dangerous to 
keep the structures under such pressure for a prolonged 
period. If it is continued, there may be death of tissue from 
cutting off the circulation, producing what is called “ gan¬ 
grene.’ ’ When a tourniquet has been applied, the victim of 
the accident should be taken to the doctor at once. If hours 
must elapse, the constricting band should be loosened from 
time to time and left off entirely when it is found the bleed¬ 
ing has stopped. 

When it can be controlled by firm pressure from a pad 
of gauze, this is a better way of treating the injury than by 
the application of the tourniquet. Firm pressure with pads 
dipped in water hot as can be borne will serve frequently to 
stop the oozing of blood. 


BOILS AND CARBUNCLES 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Apply hot-water compresses, or use repeated appli¬ 
cations of camphor, or of a ten per cent solution of 
carbolic acid in glycerine. 

2. If the surface is broken, keep covered with clean 
gauze. 

3. Consult the doctor. It may be necessary to lance 
the boil. 

4. Give lemonade or lemon-juice several times daily. 


A BOIL is a localized inflammation of the skin, developing 
pus and a “core” or slough. It is due to a germ called 
the 4 ‘ staphylococcus . 9 ’ 

In order to give this germ a chance to do its work, it must 
be made to penetrate the tissues. For it simply to alight on 
the skin is not enough. It must be rubbed in, or otherwise 
thrust into the substance of the skin. For this reason boils 
are found in those parts which are played upon by the cloth¬ 
ing. The rubbing of the collar upon the neck, or of the gar¬ 
ments upon the buttocks, may give the staphylococcus just the 
right conditions to force it into the tissues. Soiled under¬ 
wear or athletic garments may also cause boils. 

The habit of scratching the ear canal with a hair-pin or 
tooth-pick may cause the entrance of the germ into the skin 
and result in one of those painful things, an aural boil. 

A carbuncle is like a group of boils. Instead of discharg¬ 
ing its contents through one opening as a boil does, it has 
several, perhaps many, openings. The skin becomes dark 
red, hard, and it looks as if it has been varnished. In a week 
or ten days the pus appears at the surface and breaks 
through the skin at several points. 

21 




22 


BOILS AND CARBUNCLES 

The seriousness of carbuncles depends on the age and 
general condition of the victim. If he is young and vigorous, 
he will come through without danger to his life. Old per¬ 
sons and run-down or ill persons may have serious results 
from carbuncles. 

There are certain diseases, particularly diabetes, in which 
carbuncle is a rather common complication. On this account 
every person who has carbuncle or repeated boil formation 
should have the urine examined to make sure there is absence 
of sugar. 

A bad carbuncle will last from four to six weeks and may 
be very debilitating. 

With the advent of certain seasons there is sure to be an 
increase in certain diseases. For instance, in the spring 
boils are apt to be common. This is particularly true of boils 
in the ear canals. 

Winter plays havoc with health. The city folks go to 
banquets; they eat rich food and stay up late at night. Dur¬ 
ing the cold weather they walk little in the open air. Street¬ 
cars, subways, automobiles and taxis are too convenient. 

Country people eat rich food—delicious pancakes and 
sausage, pork gravy and all the fixings. Outdoor chores are 
not so regularly performed. Stormy weather results in un¬ 
accustomed inactivity. 

Winter means too much rich food and too little exercise. 
It means too little fresh air. It means neglect of the skin. 
Lack of perspiration and less frequent bathing cause the 
skin to clog and leave it the ready victim of infection. 

All these conditions lower the vitality and lessen the 
powers of resistance to germ action. Likewise, they increase 
the demands upon the kidneys, and any weakness here is apt 
to show itself by skin defects. 

When boils appear, whether in the ear canals or else¬ 
where, make a survey of the body to see what is wrong. Lots 
of times bad teeth or bad tonsils may be producing pus which 
travels to the skin surface, to cause trouble there. 

Staphylococci thrive in dirty places. They are found in 
public places, where multitudes congregate, in the dust of 


BOILS AND CARBUNCLES 23 

the streets. They are city germs. Unless they find a break 
in the surface of the body, they are harmless. 

So many diseases are conveyed by the hands that you 
should never forget the importance of frequent washing. 
Clean hands and clean finger-nails will do much to guard 
against infection of the skin of any sort, and particularly 
against boils. 

The worst feature is the likelihood of repeated boils— 
‘‘crops ’’ of boils. When once the system gets into condition 
from this infection, you are fortunate if the trouble ends 
with the first boil. 

At the very beginning a boil may sometimes be aborted 
by applying iodine or other strong antiseptic. Hot-water 
applications or the repeated application of camphor may 
allay the inflammation. A ten per cent solution of carbolic 
acid in glycerine applied to the sore place may relieve. 
Usually it will be necessary to have the doctor incise the boil 
to promote the drainage. 

Should a second boil appear, it should be a warning to 
see about your general health. The kidneys should be looked 
after and a careful examination should be made to see what 
is wrong. 

Lemonade or lemon-juice is a good thing to take every 
day if there is a tendency to boils. 

The bowels should be kept open, good food should be pro¬ 
vided, and pastry shunned. 

Fresh air, sunlight, exercise enough to get a good sweat 
every day, and plenty of water to drink—all these things 
are essential to relief. 

For a succession of boils, or for a carbuncle you should 
see the family doctor. He may determine that a vaccine 
should be tried. 


BREAST PANG, OR ANGINA PECTORIS 


(known also as neuralgia of the chest, and neuralgia 
OF THE heart) 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Send for the doctor at once. 

2. Loosen the clothing, removing corset and tight col¬ 
lar, and if possible put the sufferer to bed. 

3. Give a stimulant (such as half a teaspoonful of aro¬ 
matic spirits of ammonia in a little water). 

4. Apply heat to the chest, between the shoulders, and 
to the feet. 

5 . After the first attack keep on hand amyl nitrite pearls. 
Break one of these in a handkerchief and allow the 
patient to inhale the vapor. 


T HERE are some things in life which are fundamental. 

If they are shaken, or in any way disturbed, the bot¬ 
tom seems to have fallen out of existence. 

Did you ever experience an earthquake? We look upon 
Mother Earth as fixed and unfailing. An earthquake gives 
you the strangest feeling of wonder, doubt and loss of grip 
on the ‘‘ eternal verities.” 

Uninterrupted action of the heart is essential, not only 
to comfort, but to life itself. We expect the heart to run on 
without friction and to do its vital work without murmurings 
or calls for help. Ordinarily we are as unconscious of the 
action of this organ as we are of the dynamos which furnish 
electricity for our homes, or of the great reservoirs which 
supply us with drinking water. 

When there is a “catch” in the heart, a missing beat, or 
any other sign of trouble, it gives us a pang of fear, not 
unlike the feeling an earthquake gives. When there is actual 

24 



BREAST PANG, OR ANGINA PECTORIS 25 

pain in the heart, it is as if another of the eternal verities 
had been destroyed. 

There is a disease called angina pectoris, and also known 
as breast pang. This condition is as well named as it could 
possibly be, because it makes itself known by an agonizing, 
choking, gripping, vice-like pain in the chest. It is as if 
there were a terrible cramp in the heart. 

The pain in angina is almost enough to kill, and in some 
cases the mental agony adds the finishing blow. There is 
always the fear of immediate death. 

The first case of angina pectoris I ever attended was when 
I was a young doctor, in practice but a few weeks. I was 
called to see another doctor who lived alone in his office on 
the top floor of a big building. It was in the middle of a 
dark, rainy night. I felt my way up the stairs and along the 
shadowy halls to find my patient on the floor writhing in 
agony. The doctor thought he was dying, and I did too. To 
tell the truth, I was as scared as the suffering man. There 
went through my head visions of a dead man being found in 
the morning and bloodhounds tracking me to my room where 
I would be arrested for the mysterious murder of a fellow 
practitioner. By this time my patient and I were ‘ 4 sweating 
blood,’’ but with the urgings of an apparently dying man 
and the necessity of saving myself from prison, I am sure 
nobody ever worked harder to save a life. Daylight found 
us triumphant. My patient recovered! 

Angina pectoris indicates a disease of the heart and of 
the blood-vessels of the heart, or of the tissues immediately 
surrounding this organ. It is frequently caused by disease 
of the blood, which may follow various acute infections. 

The spasms are periodical and are brought on by mental 
excitement, unusual muscular effort, dyspepsia, overeating, 
exposure to cold, and any sudden shock. Excessive use of 
coffee or tobacco or overindulgence in liquor may precipi¬ 
tate an attack. 

The victim of this condition should be examined thor¬ 
oughly by a doctor who will provide remedies to carry and 
to be used when the spasms occur. The examination will 


26 BREAST PANG, OR ANGINA PECTORIS 

include a test of the blood to see if by any chance this may 
disclose an underlying condition which may prove to be the 
cause of the disease. 

When the attack occurs the collar should be taken off and 
the clothing loosened. If a woman is the victim, the corsets 
should be removed. If possible, place the patient in bed and 
cover warmly. 

Hot-water compresses should be applied to the chest, 
after the patient has been laid on a flat hot-water bag, placed 
between the shoulder-blades. Another hot-water bag or 
bottle to the feet will help. Take care not to burn the skin 
of a person rendered indifferent to ordinary suffering by 
reason of the agonizing pain in the heart. 

A stimulant will be helpful. You may give half a tea¬ 
spoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia. 

There is a drug called nitrite of amyl which is put up in 
glass capsules, or pearls. One of these capsules broken in a 
handkerchief and breathed by the patient usually gives in¬ 
stant relief. 

By proper care the dangerous attacks may be warded off, 
or may be rendered less severe. Like other forms of spas¬ 
modic and occasional pain, the exciting factors must be dis¬ 
covered. When these are removed there is hope of recovery. 


BROKEN BONES 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Support the injured member to prevent tearing of 
muscles and tissues until the doctor comes. 

a. For a broken leg, make a splint of anything at 
hand—a piece of wood or strip of bark, a broken 
cane, a rolled-up newspaper, a roll of str'aw, a pil¬ 
low—and bind it to the leg above and below the 
break. 

b. For a broken arm, make a sling of a handkerchief 
and bind this, with the arm in it, to the body with 
a larger cloth. 

2. Get the patient to bed with as little strain on the 
broken bone as possible. 


H OW would you know when the bone is broken? 

First, there may be a loss of motion. Following the 
break in the bone the muscles sometimes contract, making it 
impossible to move the part freely, if at all. Then there 
may be deformity, the normal line of the limb being broken. 
Pain and “crepitus’’ are other symptoms. Crepitus is the 
peculiar sound or feeling which results when the ends of the 
broken bones are rubbed together. 

Modern inventions have changed many of our methods of 
dealing with disease and injuries. For instance, in handling 
broken bones the old-time practitioner had to trust to his 
sense of touch. By gentle manipulation the broken ends 
were brought together and the sensitive finger-tips of the 
doctor determined when the parts were in proper position. 

This method does very well in thin subjects. But where 
the victim of accident is a two-hundred-pounder, it is a dif¬ 
ficult task, and there can be no certainty of success. 

27 




28 BROKEN BONES 

The discovery of the X-ray and the invention of the X-ray 
machine have wiped out all these doubts. By the use of this 
wonderful agent the bones are clearly seen and the surgeon 
can know at once whether his attempted replacement has 
succeeded. This solves the problem of immediate treatment. 
But the later management of the fractured bone and of the 
injured person is just as puzzling to-day as it was a hundred 
years ago. What shall be done depends on the nature of 
the break. 

Fractures are divided into complete fracture, in which 
there is a complete break, the bone being divided into two 
parts, and incomplete fracture. 

Incomplete fracture is sometimes called green-stick frac¬ 
ture, because it is like the imperfect break which follows your 
attempt to break a limb off a living tree. Part of the fibers 
break in two, but most of them merely bend. This is the 
kind of fracture we are likely to find in young people, be¬ 
cause their bones are less brittle than in advanced life. 

A compound fracture is one in which the bone breaks and 
the ends stick through the flesh and skin, forming an open 
wound. An impacted fracture is one in which the shattered 
ends of the broken bones are driven into each other. 

What would you do if you were in the woods miles from 
assistance and a companion fell and broke his leg or suffered 
some other form of fracture! 

Bear in mind what you must accomplish. Not alone are 
you seeking to save your patient the agonizing pain he will 
suffer when you render efficient help, but also you must pro¬ 
tect the soft tissues from being bruised and cut and jammed 
by the splintered ends of bone. To do both things you must 
care for the injured person in such a way that the broken 
ends of the bone are kept from movement. 

Discourage any effort of the injured person to help him¬ 
self. He must be kept quiet until you have prepared him 
for movement. 

With the greatest care and gentleness, slowly straighten 
the broken limb. If there is no external bleeding—showing 
that there is no protrusion of the bones through the skin— 


BROKEN BONES 29 

it will be all right not to remove the clothing from the in¬ 
jured part. To do so would require unnecessary effort and 
pain for the patient. 

Now you want a splint of some sort. In determining 
what it shall be, put on your thinking cap. Strips of wood, 
bark, pasteboard from the lunch-box, rolled-up newspaper, 
bundles of twigs or straw, a broken cane or umbrella handle, 
the rib of the umbrella, a piece of broomstick—anything 
which offers support can be used. 

Have the splints long enough to extend well above and 
below the broken place, and if possible beyond the next joint. 
Then bind them firmly against the limb, using handkerchiefs 
or strips of cloth torn from the shirt or clothing. Have the 
strips wide enough so they won’t cut into the flesh of the 
injured person. 

Fashion some sort of a crutch so that the patient can help 
himself somewhat when you get him up. But do not attempt 
to raise him if help is within reach. It is better to go some 
distance for assistance than to take chances on self-help with 
further damage from the splintered bones. It is much better 
to get a mattress, an improvised stretcher, a wide board, or 
a wagon, and to carry the injured person without his helping 
himself. 

But if no aid is within reach, you must attempt the job 
yourself. When once the patient is on his well foot and sup¬ 
ported by his crutch or staff, he can put his arm across your 
shoulders and by easy stages you can support him to a place 
where help can be had. 

If the arm is broken, it may be supported in a sling made 
of a handkerchief, a towel, or a piece of cloth. Then if it is 
bound to the body by a larger cloth, it will be more secure 
and less likely to be jarred or harmed. 

Some persons have abnormally brittle bones. They lack 
certain elements or have too much of others. The bones 
snap on the slightest unusual strain. A fall on a sidewalk 
may result in fracture. I know a man who has had at least 
one break a year from his earliest childhood. 

As we grow older the tissues become more brittle. Chil- 


30 BROKEN BONES 

dren have elastic tissues and flexible bones. When we learn 
just how to eat and how to select exactly the right food¬ 
stuffs, then our bones and all our other structures will be 
strong and resistant to injury and disease. 


BRONCHITIS, ACUTE CATARRHAL 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Put the patient to bed. 

2. If there is great difficulty in breathing, give inhala¬ 
tions from a “croup-kettle.” Make a tent by placing 
an open umbrella over the crib or bed, spreading a 
sheet over this, and draping it around the head and 
chest of the patient. Under the tent place the “croup- 
kettle.” This is a kettle of boiling water to which 
one teaspoonful of compound tincture of benzoin, 
ten drops of turpentine, and ten drops of creosote are 
added to each quart of water. 

3. Call the doctor. 


O NE of the most common ailments among children and 
frail adults is acute catarrhal bronchitis. 

In children adenoids and diseased tonsils may have much 
to do with the tendency to repeated attacks. In some adults 
there appears to be a peculiar weakness of resistance to this 
condition. 

I am surprised that so many persons disregard chronic 
nasal catarrh and go on suffering all the annoyance of that 
trouble without making any particular effort to remedy it. 
The popular idea is that catarrh is an inevitable thing. 
‘ 4 This climate”—no matter where the victim lives—“is bad 
for catarrh, and it cannot be cured here,” is a regular 
excuse. 

There is always a cause for catarrh. Many times it is a 
local trouble which can be removed. So long as the catarrh 
continues, there are myriads of germs ready to slide down 
the throat into the bronchial tubes and set up housekeeping 
there. 

Exposure to cold from neglect of proper clothing, or 
31 




32 ACUTE CATARRHAL BRONCHITIS 

wrong use of outside wraps, may be followed by bronchitis. 

Too many persons, especially women, wear their coats and 
mufflers in-doors and, no matter how long they remain, do 
not loosen or remove them. This practice excites perspira¬ 
tion and, in returning to the open air, there is evaporation 
of this moisture and chilling of the body surface. Chilling 
causes the blood vessels inside of the skin to contract, and this 
forces the blood to the deep parts of the body. The bronchial 
tubes take part in the internal congestion. 

Along with the chilling is a lowering of resistance, and 
the alert little germs have a chance to break through the 
protective tissues. Then comes the bronchitis. 

Bronchitis is a common complication of measles, scarlet 
fever, whooping-cough, influenza, typhoid fever, and other 
infections. 

When once there is universal appreciation of the impor¬ 
tance of well-ventilated sleeping-rooms and a reasonable 
amount of out-of-door life, there will be less bronchitis. The 
latter is vital. On this account, a moderate climate in winter 
is a favorite form of treatment for those who can afford 
to travel. Most of us must stay at home, so we should ar¬ 
range our homes to get the maximum of fresh air without 
cold drafts. 

During the attack, while there is fever, the patient should 
be in bed. 

If there is great difficulty in breathing, the “croup-kettle ’ 9 
and tent may be used. An open umbrella may be placed over 
the crib or bed, a sheet spread over this and draped around 
the head and chest of the patient. A kettle of boiling water, 
to which have been added a compound tincture of benzoin, 
turpentine and creosote, is placed under the tent. The steam 
vapor gives great relief. 

The doctor will be called and he will administer the 
remedies. 

(See also Adenoids; Catarrh, Nasal; Chills and Colds; 
Cold, Why We Should Not Neglect a Common; Bronchitis 
and Bronchial Asthma; Coryza; Influenza; Measles; Scarlet 
Fever; Typhoid Fever; Whooping-cough.) 


BRUISES AND BUMPS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Raise the injured part. 

2. Bind a small ice-pack on the bump or bruise, or 1 
apply cold water. 

3. The next day apply a hot compress for fifteen min¬ 
utes at a time every two hours. 


T> ESIDES all the accidents which break the skin and pro- 
duce open wounds and those which cause dislocations, 
sprains and strains, there are endless numbers which injure 
the deep tissues without opening the surface. 

Blows from the fist or from a club, pinches of the arm 
or leg, falls on the head, running into a door, or being run 
into by an automobile—any one of these accidents will injure 
the deep tissues. 

In this way are produced bumps and bruises. They are 
among the most common of human ailments. 

We differ in the strength and thickness of our blood-vessel 
walls and in the resistance of our tissues. Some of your 
friends have black-and-blue spots half the time and you may 
never be so afflicted. This is due to the greater elasticity or 
greater thickness of your vessel walls and other tissues. 

Age is a great factor, too. With increasing years the ves¬ 
sel walls become hardened, and a trifling injury will cause a 
rupture, followed by an escape of blood into the tissues. 

There are conditions which result from hard blows or 
crushing injuries, causing damage to the soft tissues and to 
the muscles. These may be seriously torn and mutilated. 
The blood, or the fluid part of the blood, oozes out into the 
tissues. In Nature’s efforts to repair the parts and to carry 
away the products of inflammation there is great congestion 

33 




34 


BRUISES AND BUMPS 


of the blood-vessels. Naturally, therefore, the part is swollen, 
causing a big welt or bump. 

What should be done in such injuries? 

The first thing to do is to stop the bleeding which is going 
on under the skin. Elevation of the part, gentle pressure and 
cold applications will accomplish this. 

I am assuming that the accident has just happened. A 
few hours later, or the next day, these measures will be of 
no value. But when the bump first comes up or the bruise 
has just been received, they will be most helpful. 

Gravity is a very important consideration in trying to 
stop bleeding. If a damaged part can be elevated above the 
rest of the body, it helps a lot. 

Ice-packs or frequent applications of cold water will go 
far towards stopping hemorrhage. A small ice-pack bound 
on by bandaging will be useful. 

To take down the swelling which continues, you may begin 
the next day with hot applications. Dip a towel in water as 
hot as can be tolerated. Apply this to the bruise or bump 
and cover it with a dry towel. Keep this up for fifteen min¬ 
utes and repeat the procedure every two hours. 


BURNS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. If the burn is severe or extensive, send for the doctor. 

2. Apply carron oil, boracic acid ointment, lard, butter, 
vaseline, flour, bismuth, alum, sodium bicarbonate, 
or any other soothing or protective substance. 

3. Remove the clothing carefully from the burned sur¬ 
face, so as not to tear the skin. If it adheres to the 
skin, immerse the part in warm water or oil, until it 
softens and can be removed. 

4. Keep the hands and all materials surgically clean. 

5. If the burn in slight, smear the oil over the damaged 
skin, apply gauze, and bandage securely so as to ex¬ 
clude all dirt. 

6. Redress every day, taking great care to avoid infec¬ 
tion and damage to the wound. 


O NE of the most common accidents in life is burning the 
body surface. Matches, hot stoves, sputtering lard, 
curling-irons, firecrackers, electrical apparatus—there are in¬ 
numerable ways of meeting with this uncomfortable experi¬ 
ence. 

Burns differ in degree and severity. Their seriousness 
depends on their extent and depth. A burn so mild as merely 
to redden the surface will result in death, provided two-thirds 
of the entire body is involved. A deep burn of limited area 
is very much less dangerous. 

Burns of the face and hands are more important and 
serious than burns elsewhere. There is more shock usually 
from such injuries. 

For slight and superficial burns some protecting agent 
should be used. There are numerous remedies to be thought 
of in this connection. Perhaps the first one is vaseline. Lard, 
butter, cream, or any other grease will do as well. 

35 




36 


BURNS 


Boracic acid, flour, or soda may be smeared over the pain¬ 
ful surface. The powder will exclude the air and promote 
the comfort. 

A simple boracic acid ointment is one of the most satis¬ 
factory of all remedies. It may be used in any stage. It is 
smeared over the surface to exclude the air and stop the 
pain when the accident first occurs. It may be applied daily 
till the cure is complete. 

Sometimes a bicarbonate of soda ointment will do more 
to control pain, but after this has been allayed, the boracic 
acid ointment will be substituted. 

During the war, paraffin and amber oil were used for 
burns. They were sprayed on the damaged surfaces. Sev¬ 
eral such mixtures, sold under various trade names, are to 
be found in drug stores. 

The British Army had a paraffin mixture, known as “ Gov¬ 
ernment No. 7,” or “Paraffin No. 7.” It is made as follows: 
Hard paraffin, sixty-seven per cent; soft paraffin, twenty-five 
per cent; olive oil, five per cent; eucalyptus oil, two per cent; 
resorcin dissolved in alcohol, one per cent. 

This mixture is warmed till it is fluid, and then painted 
on the burned skin. A brush may be used for the purpose. 
Then a thin layer of cotton is spread over the surface and 
wet with the paraffin mixture. Over all this is placed more 
cotton and a bandage is applied. 

A simple remedy is made as follows: Eucalyptus oil, five 
drops; menthol, two grains; carron oil, one ounce. Some of 
this mixture may be applied to the burn every little while. 

Picric acid in a one per cent solution is another useful 
and pain-allaying application. It produces a lemon-colored 
stain of the skin which can be removed by an alkaline solu¬ 
tion of some sort. 

The benzoated oxide of zinc ointment which is useful in 
many skin conditions will add to the comfort of the person 
who is burned. 

I have spoken of several applications, hoping that one at 
least of the possible remedies may be available. Children 
suffer so from the effects of burns that it is well to have in 


BURNS 


37 


mind a lot of things, so that under every circumstance relief 
may be afforded the little sufferer. Incidentally, the grown¬ 
up will be glad if you can suggest a remedy for a painful 

burn. 

A severe burn differs from a mild one, because it creates 
the pain, and, in addition, produces profound constitutional 
disturbances. 

First, there is more or less shock. As a result, the heart 
action is feeble and the blood stream sluggish. The patient 
becomes pale and faint. He may sink into unconsciousness. 

Pretty soon the temperature rises. Instead of being be¬ 
low normal, as the symptoms of shock pass off, there may 
be considerable fever. 

The burn produces toxic substances which poison the sys¬ 
tem. As a result the kidneys or other internal organs may 
become inflamed. 

Very young children and the aged suffer most from severe 
burns. In such persons particular care must be used to guard 
against the poisonous effects of the accident. 

Burns differ from cuts in that immediate healing is im¬ 
possible. On this account secondary infection is very com¬ 
mon. That is, pus forms in the burned tissues and the danger 
of blood-poisoning is added. 

Because of the danger of pus infection, burns must be 
treated from first to last with the greatest care. Conditions 
are so favorable for germ growth that it requires constant 
watchfulness to prevent it. 

The first aid rendered the victim is of the greatest impor¬ 
tance. The clothing must be removed with as little discom¬ 
fort as possible. Ordinarily it is better to cut it off the body, 
so as not to disturb the burned tissues. If it adheres to the 
skin, immerse the part in warm water or oil until the cloth 
softens and can be removed without damage to the tissues. 
The clothing may be dirty or germ-infected. It must be 
gotten away with as little contact with the injured parts as 
may be. Great care should be used not to tear the skin or 
otherwise add to the seriousness of the affair. 

If a doctor is within reach, it is better to stop at this stage 


38 


BUENS 


of your work, cover the wound with gauze or a clean hand¬ 
kerchief, and wrap the patient in blankets. If he is suffering 
greatly from shock, pack hot-water bags or hot bricks 
wrapped in cloth about him. Be extremely careful not to 
have them so hot as to cause another burn. Lower the head 
and keep the patient quiet. 

When the doctor comes, he will thoroughly cleanse the 
skin and injured tissues. He may open the blisters and with 
an antiseptic lotion wash away all the loose tissue. 

It must be remembered that each dressing must be just 
as carefully made as the first one. Your own hands must be 
washed and scrubbed with soap and water, and your finger¬ 
nails made perfectly clean. Otherwise, the damaged tissues 
may become infected. The more the infection, the greater the 
danger to life and the greater the amount of scar. 

What happens to a bum depends on the sort of care it 
has outside the doctor’s office. If a burned surface is kept 
perfectly clean—surgically clean—there is little delay in heal¬ 
ing and little discomfort. Unless it is properly cared for, 
an insignificant burn may develop into an uncleanly, sup¬ 
purating, dangerous sore. 

It is hard to get everybody to realize that any open, raw 
wound is exactly the kind of an entrance germs like to dis¬ 
cover. The warmth and moisture of the tissues following a 
burn offer exactly the soil germs need for their lusty growth. 

On this account the danger of a burn does not end when 
the pain stops. That may be but the beginning of really 
serious trouble. The wound must be protected from contami¬ 
nation from start to finish. 

Cleanliness is the secret of quick and happy healing. 


CHILLS AND COLDS 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 


1. Have the patient remain for half an hour in a tub 
of hot water, drinking a quantity of hot lemonade or 
hot water. 

2. Put him at once to bed and keep him between blan¬ 
kets until perspiration has ceased. 

3. Sponge him off with alcohol or cold water and put 
him to bed between dry sheets for the night. 

4. If constipated, give a tablespoonful of mineral oil or 
castor oil. 


CHILL is not a disease. It is merely a symptom, but 



** sometimes it proves to be the first sign of a serious dis¬ 
turbance. For instance, it is quite common to have influenza 
or pneumonia herald its approach by a vigorous chill. 

It is remarkable what a part the chill plays in a disease 
like typhoid fever. It may usher in the disease. Occurring 
during the course of the attack, it may indicate the onset of 
some complication like pleurisy, pneumonia, inflammation of 
the middle ear, or some other inflammatory process. There 
is always the fear that a chill may indicate pus formation 
somewhere. 

In most instances, when a person up to that moment has 
seemed perfectly well, the chill indicates the beginning of a 
cold, or that some digestive disturbance is making itself 
known. In an infant the same sort of physical condition 
might begin with a convulsion. 

It makes little difference what is the cause of the chill, 
or what will follow it; there are certain general rules which 
should govern your actions. Here is the first one: 

Go home, get into a hot bath, and then go to bed immedi¬ 
ately. 


39 




40 


CHILLS AND COLDS 


In dealing with a chill your endeavor should be to recall 
to the surface of the body the blood which has been driven 
away, and to cause the sweat glands to resume their inter¬ 
rupted work. The measures used for this purpose will not 
kill the germs of disease which are at work in your body, 
but they may abort or reduce an inflammatory process. 
There can be no inflammation without an excess of blood. 
Therefore, any treatment is good treatment which suc¬ 
ceeds in taking away from the inflamed areas quantities 
of blood which otherwise would add fuel to the flame of 
disease. 

Many a cold would be nipped in the bud were this first 
rule observed universally. But nobody wants his work inter¬ 
rupted, the employer cannot spare the loss of time, and the 
employee can ill afford to lose the wages. The too frequent 
result is that nothing is done in time to stop the progress 
of the oncreeping disease. 

But if you can do it, fill the bath-tub or a wash-tub with 
water just as hot as you can endure. Curl down in the water 
and stay there half an hour or thereabouts. From time to 
time add hot water, keeping the temperature as high as you 
can stand. 

Now comes the second rule: 

Drink a lot of hot water or hot lemonade. This will help 
to bring on the sweat which is the good sign you seek. 

If you cannot leave your work to take the bath and hot 
drinks, a teaspoonful of Jamaica ginger may add to your 
comfort. 

At the end of the bath, rub off quickly with a coarse towel 
and go to bed between blankets. This will make you perspire 
still more. At the end of an hour your sweat will be over. 
Then you should sponge off with cold water or alcohol and 
get into bed between dry sheets. 

Probably sleep will fall upon you very quickly. Stay in 
bed till the next morning, and if you do not feel much im¬ 
proved, send for the doctor. 

If you suspect there is any stomach or intestinal disturb¬ 
ance, a tablespoonful of castor oil will not be amiss as the 


CHILLS AND COLDS 41 

final step in the treatment of the disturbance indicated by 

the chill. 

Constipation predisposes to colds. Absorption of the 
waste material and its products is harmful and leads to all 
kinds of disabilities. 

Excesses of all sorts are damaging. An occasional lapse 
from correct living may not do lasting harm, but habitual 
sinning will create conditions favorable to disease and short¬ 
ened life. 

Never go to sleep without a thorough washing of face 
and hands with soap and water. Prepare for your bed with 
just as much care as you would for company dinner. Wash 
out the openings to your nostrils. 

Cleanliness means everything in the way of escape from 
every ailment, especially colds. Abundant rest and recrea¬ 
tion in the open air or well-ventilated rooms will make you 
strong in your resistance to illness. 

(See also Adenoids; Bronchitis , Acute Catarrhal; 
Chicken-Pox; Cold , Why We Should Not Neglect a Common; 
Coryza; Diphtheria; Influenza; Measles; Mumps; Pleurisy; 
Pneumonia; Scarlet Fever; Typhoid Fever; Whooping- 
cough .) 


CHOKING 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Slap smartly on the back several times. 

2. If this fails and the victim is a child, hold him up 
by the feet with head down, and slap him on the back. 

3. When the offending object remains in the throat, 
try to get it out with your finger. Have the victim 
sit facing the light, stand behind him, supporting his 
head against your chest, press your left forefinger 
into the tissues of the cheek between the open jaws 
so that he will not bite your right forefinger in a 
struggle, hook the right forefinger around the offend¬ 
ing object and try to take it out. Be very careful in 
doing this not to push the object farther down the 
throat. 


'V/f OTHERS have many things to worry about. Babies 
*** make endless kinds of funny little noises. They gurgle, 
and cough, and gasp, and sneeze, and choke. A timid woman 
has as many varieties of noises to frighten her as a tender¬ 
foot has who is sleeping his first night in a tent out in the 
wilds. 

You cannot bring up a family without running into a lot 
of emergencies. The more you know about how to deal with 
them, the better for all concerned. 

It is an almost daily occurrence for one of the children 
to choke during his meal. The food “goes the wrong way.” 
There is an immediate response from the child. His 
paroxysms may be funny to observe, but the trouble is they 
may have a serious ending. 

When the child has bolted a mass of unchewed food, it 
may get caught in the windpipe and produce dreadful results. 
The same danger may follow an attempt to swallow a coin 
of some sort. 


42 




CHOKING 43 

At first a foreign body in the throat will produce cough¬ 
ing, gasping, difficult breathing and sensations of choking. 

If the victim is calm and has enough self-control to re¬ 
strain himself, the spasm will subside. Even though a con¬ 
siderable part of the breathing space is filled by the foreign 
substance, he will breathe fairly well. 

In a case of this sort, there will be time to call a doctor 
and thus to get expert assistance. But there is no time for 
this if the patient gets black in the face and is unable to 
catch his breath. 

Sometimes a smart slap on the back will cause coughing 
and expulsion of the offending substance. 

If this fails, the child should be held feet up and head 
down. Then a slap on the back will be assisted by gravity 
and the mass may come out in a hurry. 

If this procedure does not succeed and danger of suffoca¬ 
tion is present, you must try to get the mass out with your 
finger. 

What you are attempting is a delicate operation. You 
must be exceedingly careful and cautious or the foreign sub¬ 
stance will be pushed farther down the throat. The tip of 
the finger should be hooked around the offending mass and 
pulled out. 

If you stand behind the sufferer, support his head against 
your chest, press your left forefinger into his cheek, so as to 
press the soft tissue between his open jaws, you will be safe 
from having the right forefinger bitten off by the struggling 
child. With the right finger you should be able to fish out 
the offending substance. 

If all these attempts fail, instrumental methods must be 
used. There are clever, electric-lighted devices made to illu¬ 
minate the parts and permit the passage of delicate forceps 
to catch and remove the foreign body. As a very last resort, 
nothing is left but tracheotomy—an incision through the skin 
into the windpipe. 

(See also, Lungs, Foreign Bodies in the; Swallowing a 
Foreign Body,) 


COLIC IN CHILDREN 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Give a rectal injection of hot water and soap. 

2. Apply hot-water compresses or a hot-water bottle to 
the abdomen. 

3. For an adult or a child (not a baby) give an emetic 
of one teaspoonful of mustard flour to one pint of 
water. Have the patient take the whole amount. 


M ANY a young mother has been frightened nearly to death 
when her baby, without the slightest warning, has let 
out a shriek loud enough to raise the dead. 

Now, what does it mean? This is a symptom of colic. 
Crying in very young children is frequently due to colic. 
The child may seem perfectly well and go to sleep as usual. 
Suddenly it starts from sleep and utters a cry. The legs are 
drawn up, or moved about in efforts to get relief from the 
pain. 

There are many causes for colic. Wrong feeding is the 
most common one. Undigested food in the intestinal tract 
produces the trouble. Generally there is constipation, with 
intestinal fermentation as a result. The gas formation is fol¬ 
lowed by colic. 

Too much sugar, too much candy—these are common 
causes. Over-feeding and irregular feeding are other im¬ 
portant factors. Hasty drinking of the milk or bolting the 
other food may be followed by these unpleasant symptoms. 

While we are speaking particularly of colic in children, 
the same causes will produce colic in grown people. 

The sudden cry of a child is not always due to colic. It 
may come from earache, and the possibility of ear trouble 
must never be overlooked. 

Frequent attacks of colic demand correction of the feed- 
44 



COLIC IN CHILDREN 


45 


ing. The first thing to do is to select the right food, to pre¬ 
pare the milk properly, and to give the food at regular times. 

The constipation should he overcome by right feeding 
and, at the time of the acute attack, the bowels must be 
emptied at once. An enema of hot water and soap will 
speedily stop the cutting pains of colic. One or two pints 
of water will be effective. 

Hot-water compresses to the abdomen or the use of the 
hot-water bag will promote comfort. 

I am sorry to say that paregoric is given by mothers to 
relieve the colic of the baby. Under no circumstances should 
paregoric or any other opium product be given by a layman. 
It is rare, indeed, for the modern doctor to resort to opiates, 
but, if they are ever justified, they must not be given without 
the personal direction of the family doctor. 

Sometimes rhubarb and soda, or milk of magnesia, or a 
little baking soda in water, may be given. But it is better 
to employ the enema and hot applications, and call the doctor 
if relief is not obtained quickly. 

(See also, Cramps .) 


CONVULSIONS IN CHILDREN 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Send for the doctor. 

2. Immerse the child up to the neck in a tub of warm 
water. 

3. Apply ice-bags or cold compresses to the head. 


N OTHING is more alarming to tbe young mother than to 
have her child go into convulsions. The child is appar¬ 
ently perfectly well. Without warning of any sort, it sud¬ 
denly takes a fit. The eyes roll up, the body gets stiff, the 
head is drawn back, and the breathing may stop for a few 
moments and the face get black. 

To one who has never seen an attack of this sort, the 
whole affair seems very serious. Fortunately, permanent ill 
effects rarely follow, but wise treatment during the attack is 
most essential, of course. 

The most common cause for convulsions in children is 
indigestion. Conditions leading to fever in adults often 
cause convulsions in children. A trouble that in an adult 
would produce slight fever, in a child will cause high fever. 
Also a child may have convulsions under conditions which 
would induce a chill in older persons. 

The nervous system of a child is more delicate and more 
responsive than it is in grown-ups. On this account, what 
may seem to be trifling things will result in violent disturb¬ 
ances. 

Fortunately, bad milk and contaminated food are rarely 
given children in these days of health knowledge. Especially 
since pure milk has been supplied the cities, intestinal trou¬ 
bles in the young have become extremely rare. 

Teething is a cause frequently given for convulsions. It 

46 



47 


CONVULSIONS IN CHILDREN 

is probable that the teething period simply coincides with 
the time of life when milk is the chief food. Very likely the 
digestive trouble is more responsible than the teeth. Indeed, 
convulsions are most frequent during the first half-year of 
life and before any teeth have appeared. 

All the common infectious diseases of childhood are at 
times ushered in with convulsions. Measles, scarlet fever, 
and pneumonia, for instance, may begin in this way. Worms, 
stomach disturbance, indigestion, and toxic effects of various 
sorts may produce convulsions. The kidneys are a prolific 
cause of convulsive attacks. 

Anemia, undernourishment, functional disorders of the 
brain and nervous system and disturbances of the circulation 
are other features which must be considered. 

Simple convulsions are like the attacks met in epilepsy. 
It is very rare to have this latter disease before the age of 
three, while the convulsions I have described appear in a 
child under two years. 

To control the spasms is the first thought in the treat¬ 
ment. The aim is to “draw the blood from the head.” 

If hot water is to be had, fill a tub with water as hot as 
safety will permit. Make sure that it is not too hot. Many 
a child has been harmed by plunging it into water of too high 
a temperature. 

When the child is in the tub, keep the head cool by apply¬ 
ing ice cloths or cold water. 

The same thing may be accomplished by putting the feet 
in mustard water and applying cold to the head. 

If the doctor is within reach, he may use chloroform to 
control the convulsions. Likewise, there are drugs which 
may be used by injection for this purpose. 

Rectal enemas are very useful. Emptying the bowels may 
stop the spasms. 

One attack should be a warning to investigate the health 
and, particularly, the methods of feeding the child. All the 
rules of hygiene should be practiced or ill-health, with con¬ 
vulsions, may ensue. 

(See also Epilepsy; Fits.) 


CRAMPS 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Apply hot—not warm—compresses for twenty min¬ 
utes or more over the affected part. 

2. Gently massage the affected part, unless it is the 
abdomen. 

3. If the cramp is abdominal, give a rectal injection of 
warm soapsuds. 

4. If an adult has abdominal cramp, give bicarbonate 
of soda solution, tincture of ginger, essence of pep¬ 
permint or aromatic spirits of ammonia, a half tea¬ 
spoonful of the selected remedy in half a glassful of 
water. 

5. Put the patient to bed and keep him quiet. 


rpHERE are many kinds of pain and many causes for pain. 

* Some pains we endure philosophically, because their 
onset is gradual and their causes understood. 

Any phenomenon in Nature is disturbing if it comes with¬ 
out warning and is violent in its unaccustomed expression. 
An earthquake is a terrifying example of this truth. 

Spasmodic and violent contraction of the muscles of any 
part of the body is always an unhappy experience. The pain 
may not be excessive, but the loss of control, the suddenness 
and completeness of the disability, and the moral sense of 
disaster, combine to make a seizure of this sort one of the 
terrifying experiences of life. 

The most common form of cramps is bowel pain. The 
twisting, cutting, agonizing pain of an attack of abdominal 
colic will never be forgotten by the victim. He has visions 
of appendicitis, gall-stones, poisoning, and sudden death. 

Many a boy has paid dearly for the green apples he has 
eaten. Many a man has paid for his equally absurd indis- 

48 



CRAMPS 


49 


cretion. Filling a thirsty stomach on a hot day with a flood 
of ice-water has brought on spasms of pain from outraged 
Nature. 

There is a form of cramps due to excessive labor in a 
very hot place. If you have ever visited the furnace room 
of a great steamship, you will not wonder that the human 
body must show its resentment in some forceful manner 
against continued muscular effort in such an atmosphere. 
As a matter of fact, firemen and foundrymen are liable to 
severe muscular cramps. There will be spasms of the mus¬ 
cles of the arms and legs and sometimes abdominal cramps. 
The attacks last for hours. Afterward, for days perhaps, 
there are soreness and lameness of the muscles and inability 
to work. 

In the course of certain diseases, such as Bright’s disease 
of the kidneys, cramps in the muscles and sudden spasms of 
pain are not uncommon. They are met, too, in any kidney 
disturbance where there is failure of elimination. 

In an occupation where a given muscle, or set of muscles, 
is called upon for monotonous effort, there may be a cramp 
or spasm which will make it impossible to continue the work. 
Baseball pitchers get it, losing their skill by developing what 
is called the 4 'wooden arm.” Musicians who play the piano, 
violin, or other instrument, are liable to attacks. In literary 
persons it is called “writer’s cramp.” Telegraph operators 
lose the power to continue their calling. Professional 
dancers may be attacked. 

Cramps in the muscles of the leg or foot occur in old, 
nervous or tired-out persons. On getting into bed, or in the 
middle of the night, these spasms come on, with pretty 
severe pain. 

This review shows that cramps are invariably due to 
abuse of the body. Indiscretion in diet, failure of elimina¬ 
tion, or overwork is responsible for almost every attack. 
The wise man will take heed. 

For the attack itself, no matter where the cramps may 
be, there is no better application than heat. Hot compresses, 
not warm compresses, are indicated. Apply a large towel 


50 CRAMPS 

or a piece of flannel, wrung out of water as hot as can be 
borne. Over this place a dry towel. As soon as the wet 
towel cools, dip it again, and continue the application for 
twenty minutes or more. 

There are many capsicum salves, or other preparations 
containing capsicum and menthol, that give relief. 

Massage is useful. When the cramp is in the leg or foot, 
extending the heel and drawing up the toes and the end of 
the foot will frequently relieve. 

In a case of abdominal cramps, an enema of warm soap¬ 
suds is likely to give speedy relief, whether the patient be a 
child or an adult. If an adult, a tablespoonful of castor oil 
or a dose of salts may be needed. 

Bicarbonate of soda solution, or soda-mint tablets, will 
neutralize the acidity of the stomach and may stop the 
cramps. A favorite household remedy is essence of pepper¬ 
mint, well diluted. Tincture of ginger is another good home 
medicine. Half a teaspoonful of either of these drugs, or 
of the bicarbonate of soda solution, will be about the right 
amount. Add a little sugar to the ginger or peppermint. In 
almost every home there is to be found aromatic spirits of 
ammonia. You may give half a teaspoonful in hot water for 
abdominal cramps. 

Put the victim to bed and keep him quiet. 

Whatever the nature and location of the cramp, seek the 
underlying cause, if the attacks are frequent, and find a way 
to avoid the trouble. 

(See also Colic; Intestinal Obstruction.) 


CROUP 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Place the child in a tub of warm water. 

2. Apply cold compresses to the throat. 

3. Give an emetic. One teaspoonful of mustard flour 
to a pint of water—as much as the child will take— 
is a good emetic; or, if this is not at hand, one tea¬ 
spoonful of powdered alum to four ounces of molasses 
or honey—a teaspoonful every fifteen minutes until 
vomiting is produced. 

4. If attacks recur, have an examination of the tonsils 
and adenoids. 


EARS ago a good many conditions were not understood. 



X Consequently it was not unusual to group together sev¬ 
eral ailments which are now recognized as separate and dis¬ 
tinct diseases. The science of bacteriology, the science deal¬ 
ing with germs, has revealed the identity of several diseases 
and has proven that some of these formerly considered 
separate diseases are really identical. 

Among these old-time puzzles we find “ membranous 
croup,” as it was called. This is now recognized to be 
diphtheria. 

There is another disease which used to be called “ false 
croup.” It is usually referred to now as spasmodic laryn¬ 
gitis. 

The larynx is the part of the throat between the base of 
the tongue and the windpipe. It is lined with mucous mem¬ 
brane and, like such membrane elsewhere, this is a tissue 
which is liable to become inflamed. 

Children between the ages of two and five are most likely 
to be attacked by croup. It is usually preceded for a couple 
of days or less by running of the nose, slight cough, and, 


51 




52 CROUP 

possibly, a little fever. It may be thought the child has a 
mild cold. 

In other cases there may be no warning signs. The attack 
comes on with great suddenness. In the early part of the 
night, usually after the first nap, the child is aroused from a 
sleep which may have been natural and undisturbed. He 
awakens with a loud and barking cough. It is a peculiar, 
metallic cough of unmistakable significance. 

There is very marked difficulty in breathing. Every 
breath seems hard and whistling. The swelling of the mem¬ 
brane leaves little space for the entrance and exit of air. 

The face becomes flushed. The skin is hot and the pulse 
is rapid. The child gives every evidence of fear and suf¬ 
fering. He cries, is very restless and wants to be carried. 

In an hour or so the symptoms improve and the breathing 
is less difficult. 

The attack may be repeated the next night, and perhaps 
for two or three nights in succession. 

In the treatment there are two things to be accomplished. 
The first and immediate thing is to overcome the spasmodic 
closure of the throat. Then the inflammation may be 
treated. 

If hot water can be had, fill a tub with it, at a tempera¬ 
ture of about 100 degrees. Keep the little patient in this for 
a quarter of an hour. Be very careful not to scald the child. 
Apply cold compresses to the throat. 

Sometimes a hot foot-bath, with a teaspoonful of mustard, 
may be enough to give relief. 

The common household remedy is to give an emetic. For 
this purpose syrup of ipecac alone or with syrup of squills, 
one teaspoonful of each, is a favorite remedy. In its absence 
powdered alum in molasses or honey may produce vomiting. 
To four ounces of the honey or molasses add one teaspoon¬ 
ful of alum and give a teaspoonful of the mixture every 
fifteen minutes until vomiting results. It is better, however, 
if the child has one attack, to have the family doctor pre¬ 
scribe medicine for future occasions. 

Children who have repeated attacks of croup should be 


CROUP 


53 


examined to see if they have diseased tonsils or adenoids. 
They should be given an abundance of fresh air, day and 
night, and should be taken out-of-doors every day. Some¬ 
times the parents are so fearful of the ill effects of open air 
that they keep the child indoors, treating him like a hot¬ 
house plant. This is a mistake. Every child should be given 
an abundance of out-of-door life, no matter what the climate 
or season may be. 

This advice is just as good for grown-ups. Open air is 
essential to good health. Some one said, and truly said: 
“You can’t take cold in the middle of a ten-acre lot with the 
gate open!” One may “take cold” from a slight draft, but 
never from a real bath of fresh air. 

(See also Diphtheria .) 


CUTS AND TEARS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Wash yuur own hands with soap and water, clean 
your finger-nails and wash your hands again. 

2. Paint around the wound with a seven per cent solu¬ 
tion of iodine. 

3. Wash out the wound with water which has been 
boiled. In the absence of sterilized water and gauze, 
use the cleanest water possible and a clean hand¬ 
kerchief. 

4. Wipe out all dirt, splinters, and blood clots with wet 
swabs of sterilized cotton or gauze. 

5. Bring the edges of the wound together by a narrow 
strip of adhesive plaster, applied crosswise, leaving 
a space on each side of the plaster for drainage. 

6. Cover with several layers of gauze and bandage. 


I T must be remembered that the healing of wounds does not 
depend on the application of some vile-smelling antiseptic. 
It does depend on cleanliness. 

When we speak of cleanliness in this connection, surgical 
cleanliness is meant. There is a difference between the ap¬ 
pearance of cleanliness and actual, surgical cleanliness. 
Water may look pure and clean, but be filled with the germs 
of disease. 

To treat a wound properly it must be put into a state of 
real cleanliness and kept so. 

It matters not whether the wound is made by the cut of 
a sharp knife, whether it is a tear made by a piece of tin, 
or whether it is a rip of the skin due to a rusty nail. In 
every wound, cleanliness is the secret of immediate and com¬ 
plete healing. After a puncture from a rusty nail a doctor 
should be consulted at once. There may be danger of 
tetanus. 


54 




55 


CUTS AND TEARS 

The surgeon will use bichloride of mercury or some other 
antiseptic, but in first aid rendered by a layman, boiled water 
is about the best agent which can be applied. 

The person who is to give the treatment should first wash 
his own hands thoroughly with soap and water. Then he 
should carefully clean his finger-nails. After this he should 
wash his hands a second time. 

All this care may seem needless, but many a harmless cut 
has been infected through lack of these precautions. 

Now you are prepared to wash out the wound. Water 
that has been sterilized by boiling may be freely used. It 
may be poured into the wound, or applied by swabs of ster¬ 
ilized cotton or gauze. 

All dirt, splinters, bits of rust, blood-clots and other for¬ 
eign substances should be washed or wiped out. The wound 
should be thoroughly cleansed in this manner. 

In every household there should be a solution of iodine 
to apply to cuts and other injuries. A seven per cent solu¬ 
tion may be painted around the wound before applying the 
water. 

Having cleansed the parts thoroughly, they should be 
dried and some means employed to close the wound. Of 
course, the surgeon will use sutures, but the layman may 
bring the edges of the wound together by a narrow strip of 
adhesive plaster. This is not put on to cover the wound, and, 
indeed, the wound should not be covered. The strip of 
plaster should be used cross-wise and not be wide enough to 
cover the whole length of the cut or tear. There should be 
space on each side of the plaster for drainage. 

After the wound is closed as best it can be with one or 
more strips of adhesive plaster, it should be covered with 
several layers of gauze and then bandaged. 

In the absence of sterilized water and gauze, of course 
it will be necessary to use the cleanest water possible and a 
clean handkerchief. The latter may also be used in place of 
a bandage. 

In every household should be a simple first-aid kit with 
the needed dressings for an emergency. 


DIARRHEA 

(known also as dysentery, enteritis, and colitis) 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Apply hot-water bottles or hot moist compresses to 
the abdomen to relieve pain. 

2. Frequent rectal injections may afford relief. 

3. If the patient is a baby, stop milk and give only 
boiled water for a day or two. 

4. If an adult, keep him on a milk diet until the symp¬ 
toms disappear. 


OUMMER indiscretions in eating and drinking are respon- 
^ sible for lots of trouble. One such disturbance is inflam¬ 
mation of the lining membrane of the intestines, a condition 
called “enteritis.” Any part, or all parts, of the intestinal 
tract may be involved. The chief symptom of this trouble 
is diarrhea. 

Even the mental condition has its effect on the bowel 
action. The muscular contractions of the walls of the intes¬ 
tines are given the name “peristalsis.” Both secretion and 
peristalsis may be increased by fright or worry. The result 
is nervous diarrhea. 

The first indication of trouble is “stomach-ache,” or pain 
in the bowels. This may be colicky in character, coming and 
going, or it may be cutting, indeed quite knife-like. 

In acute cases there may be fever, loss of appetite, and 
intense thirst. If long continued, there is great prostration 
and real illness. In chronic diarrhea there may be loss of 
flesh and interference with the general health. 

In infants and young children the cause is found usually 
in the quality of the milk. In older children, ice-cream, iced 
lemonade, or “soda-pop,” or over-indulgence in candy or 

66 



DIARRHEA 


57 


pastry, may be responsible. In adults the cause is found in 
indiscretion in diet, such as excessive indulgence in ice¬ 
cream or ice-water. For all persons, bad meat, uncleanly 
food, contaminated food handlers, may be responsible for 
the attack. 

If the disease does not yield in a day or two, there should 
be recourse to the physician. It is so easy to overlook 
typhoid fever or some other serious difficulty which may 
begin in the same way, that no chances should be taken. 

If diarrhea appears in a child, the milk should be stopped 
at once. An adult should change from solid food to a milk 
diet. 

Many adults suffer from chronic diarrhea or from fre¬ 
quent attacks of enteritis. In such cases there is some under¬ 
lying cause that must be found by the doctor. 

The baby must be given particular care, especially in the 
summer season. Fresh air—all the time by ventilation and 
every day by out-of-door life—is most important. Sunlight 
at all seasons is vital. 

All the water given the child should be boiled. 

If the baby is fed from a bottle, it must be from a ster¬ 
ilized bottle equipped with a sterilized nipple. 

I have said the milk should be stopped at once if diar¬ 
rhea occurs in a child. Many mothers, especially new 
mothers, are so fearful that the child will starve to death, 
that this advice seems cruel. It is far better, however, to 
give the child nothing but water for a day or two. So long 
as the temperature continues, your doctor will probably ad¬ 
vise against food, and it is good advice. 

The colic may be relieved by hot, moist compresses ap¬ 
plied to the abdomen, by a hot-water bottle, or a hot tub 
bath. Frequent enemas will help. 

(See also Constipation .) 


DISLOCATIONS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. If a doctor is within reach, apply to him. 

2. Until the doctor comes, place the parts in as com¬ 
fortable a position as possible and apply cold water. 

3. In the absence of a doctor, act as recorded in the 
further advices of this chapter. 

4. After replacement, the part must be strapped or held 
in a sling till the soreness disappears. 


TV/T OST of our bones are jointed in such a way that move- 

"*• ment is possible wherever two bones come together. 
Very free movement is found in some joints. Nature has 
shown great ingenuity in giving freedom of motion, with 
security from displacement of one or both bones. To guard 
against trouble in the joints, ligaments made of tough but 
flexible material are applied in such a way that they serve 
as very perfect hinges. 

A displacement of the bone and its partial or complete 
escape from the enclosure at the joint is called a dislocation. 

There can be no original dislocation without tearing of 
one or more of the ligaments. On this account, an accident 
of this sort is always a painful thing. Pain is the first sign 
of trouble. 

There are certain other symptoms which show that dis¬ 
location has taken place. For instance, the normal move¬ 
ment is impaired. Either the usual freedom of movement 
is reduced, or the joint is almost fixed. 

The next sign is deformity. The ordinary appearance of 
the joint is changed. When you compare it with the cor¬ 
responding joint on the other side of the body, it will be 
seen that something has gone wrong. 

58 



DISLOCATIONS 59 

The sooner a dislocated joint is seen by a doctor, the 
easier will it be for him to restore the bone to place. After 
fluid has escaped into the tissues and swelling has begun, re¬ 
placement is more difficult. 

On general principles it is unwise for laymen to attempt 
the repair of a dislocated joint. Usually it is better to apply 
cold water and wait for the doctor. The parts should be 
placed in the most comfortable position which can be found 
and cold applications continued till the doctor arrives. 

The way a dislocated shoulder may be put back in place 
—or reduced, to use the medical term—is something like this: 

The victim lies on his back on the floor, or on the ground. 
You take off your shoe, sit down beside him, and place your 
heel in the armpit of the damaged side. Then you pull the 
arm and press it across the body, using your heel as a 
fulcrum. 

You see this joint is a socket and the head of the bone 
has slipped out of the cavity. You are trying to pull the 
bone away from the edge of the crater, permitting it to slip 
back into place. If you succeed, it will fly back with a snap. 

You must not be rough, or* exert undue effort. If you 
overdo, you may break the bone and thus seriously aggravate 
the trouble. 

Dislocation of one of the finger joints is more readily 
reduced, because you can pull with one hand and manipulate 
the joint with the other. 

One of the rare, but uncomfortable, dislocations involves 
the lower jaw. Yawning may be overdone and the jaw may 
slip out of place. In consequence the victim cannot close his 
mouth. 

To reduce it, both thumbs, one on each side, are placed 
on the back teeth, and the jaws are firmly held with the 
fingers. Effort is made by pressure downward and then 
backward, to slip the jaw back into the socket. 

If you succeed, the mouth closes with a snap. On this 
account you must wear thick gloves or wrap each thumb in 
many rolls of a handkerchief, or you will be badly bitten. 

When any dislocation has been overcome, the part must 


60 


DISLOCATIONS 


be put in a sling, or wrapped in such a way as to prevent 
movement. This is done to permit the torn ligament to heal. 

When a joint has once become dislocated, the bone is liable 
to slip out again on slight provocation. Care must be exer¬ 
cised to prevent recurrence of the trouble. 


DROWNING AND ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Send for the doctor and a pulmotor. 

2. Do not waste time removing clothing. 

3. Force the mouth open, wipe out any mucus or saliva 
in the mouth or throat, and pull the tongue forward 
with a dry handkerchief. 

4. Place the victim face downward on the ground, 
with a folded coat or any other garment under his 
stomach. Firmly squeeze the side to expel water. 
Having done this turn the victim on his back. 

5. Kneel at the head of the victim, facing his body 
and grasping each arm between the wrist and el¬ 
bow. 

6. Carry the arms up and outward till the hands meet 
over his head, keeping the mouth open and tongue 
forward. 

7. Carry the arms back to the sides of the body, bend¬ 
ing the elbows and firmly pressing his arms against 
the sides of the chest. 

8. Repeat this alteration of pressure and relief until 
natural respiration has been resumed. 

9. Then turn the victim on his back, rub briskly, al¬ 
ways towards the heart, give stimulants, and, as 
soon as possible, get him to bed. 

10. Cover with hot blankets and surround with hot- 
water bottles. 


“SUSPENDED animation” is a term used to describe that 
^ condition where the victim appears to be dead, although 
the spark of life still lingers. 

Perhaps no better example can be mentioned than the 
profound effects of drowning. 

Here is a body from which life seems to have fled. To 

61 




62 DROWNING AND ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION 

all appearances we are gazing at a dead man. Yet the soul 
can be coaxed back, and once again the man may function as 
a living being. 

In drowning, before death actually takes place, there is 
a brief suspension of animation, and, if treatment is prop¬ 
erly and vigorously applied during this period, recovery is 
almost certain. 

At the first news of a drowning send for a doctor and a 
pulmotor. You must not trust to your own efforts, and 
should make use of them only until a more experienced per¬ 
son arrives on the scene. 

As soon as the body is removed from the water, force the 
mouth open, wipe out any mucus or saliva found in the mouth 
and throat, and pull the tongue forward. For this purpose 
a dry handkerchief may be used. 

Next place the victim on the ground, face down, with a 
roll of clothing, a block of wood, or some other substantial 
object under the stomach. Then, with firm pressure on the 
sides of the chest, squeeze the ribs. 

This procedure is intended to force out any water which 
has found its way into the throat and lungs. You will under¬ 
stand, therefore, why it is important to have the head, neck 
and upper part of the chest lower than the bottom of the 
lungs. 

Having drained the air passages, turn the victim on his 
back and begin applying artificial respiration. 

In suspended animation, whether from drowning, from 
suffocation from gases, or from electrical shock, the breath¬ 
ing muscles fail to act. To restore life the lungs must be 
made to work, and since this is accomplished by outside help 
the act is called artificial breathing, or artificial respiration, 
merely another name for the same thing. 

You must kneel at the head of the victim, take hold of his 
arms between the wrist and the elbow, and carry them out 
and upward until the hands meet above his head. At the 
same time the mouth of the unconscious man is kept open 
and the tongue pulled forward. 

If you will put your own body and arms in this position. 


DROWNING AND ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION 63 

you will find your chest expanded and filled with air. This 
is exactly what you are trying to do for the drowned man. 

Hold the arms here while you slowly count two. Then 
carry the arms back, bending the elbows of the victim, and 
firmly press his arms against the sides of the chest. 

In this way you squeeze the air out and empty the lungs. 
Hold this position while you slowly count two. 

Then repeat the movement, trying to make a complete 
circuit twelve to fourteen times per minute. Since you are 
sure to be nervous and inclined to go too fast, have some¬ 
body time your actions by the watch. 

Harsh handling must be avoided. Rolling over a barrel 
is too crude and rough a thing to do. The gentle method 
here described is much to be preferred. 

Bear in mind that the purpose of your treatment is to 
get air into the lungs. You must be sure the mouth is free 
from mud and weeds and that no false teeth are there to 
obstruct breathing. The tongue should be well forward. 

Don’t give up. Keep at your efforts for an hour or 
more. There is no greater satisfaction than to hear that first 
voluntary gasp for air. You will be amazed at your exalta¬ 
tion and feel rewarded for your good work. 

(See also Asphyxia, or Strangulation,) 


EAR AND NOSE, INSECTS AND FOREIGN BODIES 

IN THE 


WHAT TO DO 
For an insect in the ear 

1. Pour sweet oil, sewing-machine oil, olive oil, or any 
other oil freely into the ear and let it remain for a 
few minutes. 

2. Or use the vapor of chloroform to kill the insect. 
Place a piece of cotton saturated with chloroform in 
the bowl of a pipe, and with the mouth over the 
bowl force the vapor through the pipe-stem to the 
ear of the victim. 

3. After using the oil or the chloroform, irrigate the 
ear gently, using a fountain syringe full of warm 
water, placed low, so that the stream of water will 
be steady, but not strong. 

For a foreign body in the ear or the nose 

1. Dip a small camers-hair brush or a cotton string 
in collodion, or glue. Apply the sticky object to 
the hard body in the ear or nose, and let it adhere. 
When the sticky substance has had time to dry, pull 
gently and the foreign body can generally be re¬ 
moved. 

2. Never use force. 

3. If the object cannot be removed by gentle means, 
send for the doctor. 

For a foreign body in the nose 

1. Pass the blunt end of a loop of thin wire up the nose 
and behind the substance, and gently draw it for¬ 
ward. 


C HILDREN are given to using the nose and ears as places 
in which to hide all sorts of things. Beans, peas, peb- 

64 




FOREIGN BODIES IN EAR AND NOSE 65 

bles, cherry stones, shot, buttons, pieces of wood, and lots 
of other objects find their way to these cavities. 

Without human assistance such accidents could never 
happen. But there are unwelcome visitors which gain ad¬ 
mission to the ear canal without the cooperation of the victim. 

Nothing is more disagreeable than the symptoms produced 
by an insect in the ear. Every movement gives rise to noises 
which are almost intolerable. 

If the insect succeeds in crawling down to the drum mem¬ 
brane, so that it actually has contact with that delicate struc¬ 
ture, the symptoms are violent and almost maddening. Not 
only is there loud noise, but there may be severe pains, head¬ 
aches, vomiting, and even convulsions. 

I have discovered in the ear and removed bedbugs, fleas, 
beetles, spiders, cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. 
Sometimes there will be two or three varieties of insect in 
the ear. 

Nature has provided a means of guarding against the 
entrance or, at least, the continued welfare of the insect. 
There is a sticky, highly odorous substance in the outer part 
of the canal which entangles the feet and wings of the visitor. 
This is one of the chief uses of the ear-wax. 

In advanced life, and in early life, too, for an occasional 
person, there may be an entire absence of ear-wax. Then the 
insect has a better chance. 

Sometimes it is very small, microscopic indeed. In spite 
of its tiny size, the insect may be an aggressive beast and 
raise a lot of trouble. 

Occasionally we see a child suffering from chronic dis¬ 
charge from the ear or the nose. If this condition is neg¬ 
lected, the ear canal or nasal passage may become a very 
offensive region. Cases have been recorded of the hatching 
out in the nose or ears thus affected, of the larva of blue¬ 
bottle flies. The maggots cause pain and great misery. 

Insects are quickly killed by instillation of oil or glyc¬ 
erine. Sweet oil, sewing-machine oil, olive oil, corn oil, or 
any other kind of oil will do the work. Then the ear should 
be syringed out with quantities of warm water. 


66 FOREIGN BODIES IN EAR AND NOSE 

Another way to kill insects in the ear, but not in the nose, 
is by the vapor of chloroform. Place in the bowl of a pipe 
a piece of cotton saturated with the drug. With the mouth 
over the bowl force the vapor through the pipe-stem to the 
ear of the victim. 

The best way to irrigate the ear is to employ the fountain 
syringe. In using the syringe great care must be exercised 
to avoid undue force. By keeping the bag low there will be 
a steady flow of water without the danger which comes from 
a powerful stream. Too great force will be followed by diz¬ 
ziness and even complete loss of consciousness in a faint. 

Water causes vegetable substance, like wood, beans, and 
peas to soften and swell. Unless very lightly placed, so the 
foreign body will wash out at once, water should not be used. 
Instead, you may use what I call the 1 ‘agglutinative method” 
of removal. 

Dip a camel ’s-hair brush, or cotton string, in collodion 
or glue. Apply this sticky thing to the glass bead, or other 
offending substance, and permit it to dry and adhere to it. 
Then, by gently pulling, the foreign body can be removed. 
Sometimes adhesive plaster or pine-pitch can be used in a 
similar way. This method may be used either for foreign 
bodies in the ear, or in the nose. 

Ordinarily gentle syringing will wash out from the ear 
the foreign body. Have the head held to one side with the 
irritated ear directed downwards. 

If you have an obedient patient, a foreign body may be 
extracted from the nose by passing the blunt end of a loop 
of thin wire up the nose and behind the offending substance. 
Making gentle movements, out it comes. 

Never use force. Remember there is no occasion for 
hurry. No harm can result from a few hours’ or a few days’ 
presence of the foreign body. 


EARACHE 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. At the first twinges of pain apply a hot-water bottle, 
a hot-salt bag, or a hot plate to the ear. 

2. If the pain increases, mix one part of carbolic acid 
with seven parts of glycerine and drop a few drops 
into the ear. 

3. Vapor of chloroform may be found effective in re¬ 
lieving the pain. Place a bit of cotton in the bowl 
of a pipe, saturate it with chloroform, and with your 
mouth over the bowl, force the vapor through the 
pipe-stem into the ear of the victim. 

4. In the absence of drugs, gently pour a little warm 
water into the ear canal, from a spoon, or use a 
fountain syringe raised just above the level of the ear. 

5. Do not use oils, as these interfere with surgical 
measures, should the latter be necessary. 

6. Consult the doctor. 


T HERE is no worse pain than the agony of earache. 

When I see so many children and young people, too, 
suffering from earache, I feel that those few individuals who 
escape it are fortunate indeed. 

I can recall having but one single attack. Visiting my 
grandmother, the joy of it all was turned into misery, and I 
begged to be taken home to my mother. Children have but 
one thought when they are in pain—home and mother. 

The ear is so close to the brain that a genuine earache 
seems to be something within the brain itself. It is knife¬ 
like and terribly prostrating. Your courage oozes rapidly. 

The ear is divided into three parts. The outside auricle 
and the canal leading to the ear-drum constitute the external 
ear. Carved out of the bone is a space occupied by the end¬ 
ings of the nerves of hearing. This is called the internal ear, 

67 




68 


EARACHE 


Between the ear-drum and the structures protecting the 
internal ear is a cavity, known as the middle ear. This com¬ 
municates with the nose by means of a narrow canal, called 
the Eustachian tube. 

One purpose of this canal is to supply air to the middle 
ear—to ventilate it, as it were. Another purpose is to drain 
from the middle ear any fluid which may accumulate there. 

The lining of the nose is known as the mucous membrane. 
This membrane extends up the Eustachian tube and fur¬ 
nishes a delicate lining for the middle ear. It covers the 
tiny bones of the ear and furnishes the inner layer of the 
ear drums. 

All the causes which set up inflammation in the nose are 
capable of extending to the Eustachian tube and up that 
canal to the middle ear. Catching cold, the irritation of 
dust and smoke, the pus conditions following germ infection 
—all these may inflame the lining of the Eustachian canal 
and of the middle ear, too. 

When mucous membranes become inflamed they begin to 
swell and soon they secrete excessive quantities of mucus 
and serous fluid. 

You can see what will happen when these changes attack 
the nose, the Eustachian canal, and the middle ear. There 
may be so much swelling that the Eustachian tube swells 
shut, and then the drainage and ventilation are shut off from 
the ear. The fluid continues to flow and pretty soon there 
is trouble because of the dammed-up secretion. 

Pressure of the fluid on the delicate tissues causes pain, 
sleeplessness, restlessness, and even high fever. When all 
these things occur there is a bad earache. 

Some persons suffer from earache much more commonly 
than others. If a child has enlarged tonsils and adenoids, he 
is particularly liable to attacks of earache. The diseased 
and thickened tissues at the mouth of the Eustachian tube 
interfere with free ventilation and drainage. Such persons 
are more likely to have colds, and a slight cold will complete 
the closure of a Eustachian tube already reduced in its 
caliber by the chronically swollen adenoid tissues. 


EARACHE 


69 


To prevent earache and deafness the child who has 
chronic catarrh, adenoids, and diseased tonsils should he 
given appropriate medical attention. Unless the diseased 
tissues are gotten rid of there may be, in addition to the 
earache, serious and permanent impairment of hearing. 

Whenever there is chronic inflammation of the nasal 
mucous membrane, there is a condition favorable to the 
growth of pus-producing germs. Children affected in this 
way must be guarded against contact with other children who 
have hard colds or running ears. 

When the first symptoms of ear involvement are observed, 
the twinges of pain may be relieved by the use of hot appli¬ 
cations to the ear and side of the head. The hot-water bag, 
a hot-salt bag, or a hot plate will do much to promote com¬ 
fort. 

There are solutions which may be warmed and dropped 
into the ear. The simplest one is a mixture of one part of 
carbolic acid to seven parts of glycerine. 

It is better not to use oils in the ear, because if the ear¬ 
ache ends in pus formation, the oil interferes with surgical 
measures. Other solutions can be washed out, leaving the 
ear clean and ready for the doctor. 

It is a good thing to have in the household a bottle of 
ear-drops. Especially in young children, a drop or two of 
warm solution will give immediate relief of pain. 

Here are two prescriptions which I have used for years 
and have given to endless numbers of mothers to soothe the 
aching ears of little children: 

1. Camphor-chloral, five drops; almond oil, twenty-five 
drops; glycerine, thirty drops. Mix. Warm and drop in 
the ear as required. 

2. Plantago major, four drams; belladonna tincture, 
fifteen drops; tincture of aconite root, ten drops; Magendie’s 
solution, twenty drops; enough water to make one ounce. 
Mix. Warm and drop into the ear every five minutes if 
necessary. 

The vapor of chloroform relieves some earaches as if by 
magic. Place a bit of cotton in the bowl of a pipe. Saturate 


70 EARACHE 

it with chloroform. With your mouth over the bowl, force 
the vapor through the pipe-stem into the ear of the patient. 

Tobacco smoke may be used in the same way. 

In the absence of any drug, you may apply heat directly 
to the ear-drums by gently pouring warm water into the ear 
canal. Do not use force. Pour the liquid from a warm 
spoon, or use a fountain syringe, raised just above the level 
of the ear. 

If it can be applied, steam may be used instead of water. 
By attaching a piece of rubber tubing to the radiator valve, 
the steam may be conducted to the aching ear. 

The old-fashioned and reliable household remedy is lau¬ 
danum and sweet oil, but, as I have said, oil is objectionable. 
Remember, too, that this local remedy and the others I have 
told you about are poisons and must be kept from the chil¬ 
dren. 

The last suggestion I can make is to mention warmed, 
strained honey as an agent for providing heat and comfort 
to an aching ear. 

Your treatment is not complete unless the nose and 
throat are given appropriate treatment. Tampons of ten 
per cent solution of argyrol inserted in the nose will assist 
greatly in relieving the primary cause for the earache. 

(See also Adenoids; Catarrh, Nasal; Cold, Why We 
Should Not Neglect a Common; Mastoid Disease .) 


ELECTRICAL SHOCK 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Insulate yourself. To do this, wear rubber boots or 
stand on a rubber mat, if possible. If these are lack¬ 
ing, stand on a perfectly dry paper, a dry board, 
or a book. Wear dry gloves and use perfectly dry 
sticks for lifting the wire. 

2. Poke your coat under the wire, so that it can be lifted 
by the coat, and release the victim. 

3. Treat the victim as for drowning: Loosen the cloth¬ 
ing, give l°ts of fresh air, open the mouth and pull 
the tongue forward, and, if necessary, perform arti¬ 
ficial respiration. (See chapter on Drowning, Part I.) 


TNVENTION and progress are associated always with ac- 
* cidents and disasters. It is rare, indeed, for any great 
public improvement to be made without the loss of human 
life. For every death there have been multitudes of lesser 
calamities. 

It took a long time to learn how to handle and safely 
transmit powerful electric currents. We hear of few acci¬ 
dents nowadays as compared with the serious burns which 
used to be so common as results of electrical contact. 

With the great numbers of high-tension cables, live wires, 
great motors, and other electrical machinery, it is a wonder 
more people are not damaged. A dangerous degree of shock 
and even death may result from such contact. 

What would you do if you found a man on the ground 
in contact with a live wire? There might be smoke and a 
great display of fire, but, even in their absence, you may be 
sure a dangerous amount of electricity is passing along the 
wire or the man would not be in his unconscious condition. 

The first thing to do is to get rid of the live wire without 

71 




72 ELECTRICAL SHOCK 

touching it with the hands, or getting its dangerous fluid 
through the body of the victim. This is a ticklish job. You 
must not venture to touch the wire until you are ‘‘insulated.” 
That is, you must he so protected as to he in no danger of 
getting the current yourself. If you have not rubber boots 
or a rubber mat to stand on, use perfectly dry paper, a dry 
board, or a book. Poke your coat under the wire, so that it 
can be lifted by the coat and without touching the metal 
with your hands. Wear gloves, dry ones, and use perfectly 
dry sticks for all handling. This is particularly important 
as water is a conductor. 

When you have released the victim from contact with the 
wire, he must be treated as a drowning person would be. 
(See the chapter on Drowning, Part I.) 

Loosen the clothing, give lots of fresh air, open the mouth, 
and pull the tongue forward. It may be necessary to per¬ 
form artificial respiration, as in drowning. Keep the body 
warm. 

The effect of lightning is the same as contact with a live 
wire, such as I have described. The treatment is the same. 


EYE, FOREIGN BODY IN THE 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Rub the other eye. 

2. If the foreign body does not wash out with the tears, 
fill a glass even full of clean, preferably boiled, water, 
have the victim place the face against the top of the 
cup, with the eye immersed, and wink vigorously. 

3. If the object can be seen, remove it with the corner 
of a clean handkerchief. 

4. If unsuccessful in removing it, let the victim see a 
doctor. 


T WISH it were possible to teach every person in the 
world exactly what should be done about a foreign body 
in the eye. 

For years I have protested against an unfortunate and 
dangerous practice prevailing in most factories. Everywhere 
is found a workman who has a peculiar knack of removing 
foreign bodies from the eye. For this purpose he uses a 
tooth-pick, a nail, the corner of a not-too-clean handkerchief, 
a pointed stick, or some other instrument. 

This was a habit which could be excused years ago, be¬ 
fore we learned the meaning and significance of surgical 
cleanliness. But it is not to be winked at now that we know 
the dangers and causes of infection. So tiny a thing as a 
cinder in the eye may break the surface. The application of 
an implement of any sort may carry germs to invite serious 
inflammation, if not the actual loss of the eye. 

Some persons have eyes which seem to have a real affinity 
for dirt. Perhaps you are one such. Big eyes with wide- 
open lids, eyes which do not close at the least hint of danger 
—all such eyes pick up cinders, particles of carbon, dust and 
dirt of every description. 


73 




74 


FOREIGN BODY IN THE EYE 


If you leave tlie eye alone, or practice that good old rule, 
“rub the other eye,” the flow of tears will wash away the 
offending substance in most cases. 

If this does not serve and the foreign body can be seen, 
it may be brushed away with the corner of a clean hand¬ 
kerchief. 

Sometimes it will wash out if you fill a glass even full 
with clean water. If possible, use boiled water. Clap your 
face and eye into the water and wink vigorously, fully open¬ 
ing and closing the eye. 

Have your doctor show you how to turn the upper lid. 
It is a simple thing to do and he will gladly teach you. 
Everybody should know how to do it. It is a common thing 
to have a tiny object hide itself under the lid, and it may be 
impossible to remove it without turning the lid. 

Never use any kind of a sharp or pointed tool to remove 
an embedded object. Certainly such an implement, if used, 
must be surgically clean. There must be sterilization of the 
instrument or trouble may follow. 

Take no chances with your sight. Your eyes are a price¬ 
less possession. You should not trust any one to trifle with 
them. 

You go to a lawyer and state your troubles. He tells 
you he will study the matter, look up the law, and give you 
an opinion in a week or so. But if something is wrong with 
your precious body, you entrust its care and treatment to any 
stranger who may be passing. 

That is all wrong. It is a good thing to know all about 
your body and its ailments, but when you are sick or in seri¬ 
ous physical trouble, consult your friend, the doctor. 


FAINTING 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Place the sufferer flat on his back with head slightly 
lower than feet. 

2. Give him all the fresh air possible. 

3. If he can swallow, give him a stimulant, such as 
half a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia, in 
half a glassful of water, pouring a few drops at a 
time into his mouth. 

4. Smelling salts, fanning, bathing the face with cold 
water, or gently slapping it may be used to stimulate 
the circulation. 


E VERYBODY in the world has been told at least a hun¬ 
dred times what to do for a person in a faint. Yet 
what happens when somebody topples over? There is a rush 
to lift the head and shoulders. In kindness of heart every¬ 
body strives to be the one person to hold the head of the 
sufferer. 

You know better, but why do you act this way in an 
emergency? 

How can presence of mind be taught? Confidence comes 
with knowledge. It is a twin of knowledge. If you know all 
about a subject, you cannot be upset if a sudden call is made 
on your knowledge. A good driver is never frightened if the 
horses act up and stand on their hind feet. He knows exactly 
what to do. 

It is to be expected that doctors will know what is re¬ 
quired in every sort of emergency. But every layman 
should know how to act in an event so common as a faint. 

Let us see what a faint is. It is due to a failure in the 
normal action of the heart. Instead of acting as a strong 
pump, sending the blood in forceful stream to the brain, it 

75 




76 


FAINTING 


is stilled in its action. It is flabby and weak, barely moving 
the blood through the vessels. 

To be well and strong, to have all the organs function, 
to have the heart do its work properly, there must be an 
abundance of blood in the brain. There are brain centers 
which control the action and direct the movements and func¬ 
tions of the body. Everything stops if the blood supply is 
shut off and the brain is lacking in the life-giving fluid. 

You know how quickly a plant or a spray of flowers will 
wilt if it is taken from the earth or other supply of water. 
If the brain is deprived of its necessary fluid—the blood— 
the body wilts. 

The whole secret of life, then, is to keep the brain sup¬ 
plied with blood. Not only life itself, but vigor and normal 
function demand an unfailing supply of this fluid. 

Gravity acts on the fluids of the body exactly as it does 
on fluids outside the body. Water runs down hill—so does 
blood. 

To keep the functions of the body going there must be 
blood in the brain. If the heart is too weak to force the 
blood upward into the brain, gravity must be called on for 
assistance. 

The first thing to do in fainting is to place the sufferer on 
his back, flat on the floor, or on the bed. If on a couch or 
bed, raise the end of the bed, so that the head is lower than 
the feet. 

The aim of the treatment is to get the blood into the 
head. To this end the arms .may be raised, so that gravity 
will assist the cure. 

Stimulants should be given. Half a teaspoonful of aro¬ 
matic spirits of ammonia in half a glassful of water, or any 
other stimulant, will do good if the patient can swallow. A 
few drops at a time poured into the mouth will produce 
favorable results. 

Lots of fresh air should be made available. On this ac¬ 
count it is well to remove the sufferer from a crowded place 
and away from the curious who will crowd around. 

Smelling-salts may be of some use. I want to say of them, 


FAINTING 


77 


however, that their daily and hourly use is just as damaging 
as a similar use of any other stimulant. Temperance is a 
good thing in the use of smelling-salts. 

Fanning, dashing cold water into the face, or bathing it 
with cold water, and gently slapping the face are useful 
measures. 

The object of all treatment is to improve the circulation 
and to make the blood return to the brain. 


FEET, SORE AND BLISTERED 


WHAT TO DO 
For blisters 

1. Sterilize a needle by passing it through the flame 
of a match, wipe it off on a clean piece of cotton or 
gauze, prick the blister open at the edge, and press 
out the fluid, being careful not to break the skin 
over the blister. 

2. Paint the blister and surrounding parts with three 
per cent solution of iodine. 

3. Cover with a thin pad of gauze and strap this in place 
with adhesive plaster. 

For cracks 

1. Swab out the crack or fissure with a three per cent 
solution of iodine, or a five per cent solution of tannic 
acid in glycerine, or tincture of benzoin. 

2. If these do not give relief, carefully swab into the 
crack a ten per cent solution of silver nitrate. 

For perspiring feet 

1. Bathe daily in cold water, rub dry and dust with a 
powder consisting of equal parts of cornstarch, 
boracic acid, and stearate of zinc. 

2. Rub daily with a solution of ten per cent salicylic 
acid in alcohol, dry, and apply a ten per cent solution 
of formalin or enough permanganate of potash crystals 
dissolved in water to make a wine-red liquid. 


B ESIDES corns and bunions, there are other causes for 
aching feet. 

New shoes, or tight shoes, or poorly fitting shoes, or stiff 
and unyielding shoes, are responsible for the formation of 
blisters. It is not uncommon to have blisters form when an 
old pair of shoes is exchanged for new ones, especially when 

78 




SORE AND BLISTERED FEET 79 

high shoes are discarded for low shoes. If the low shoe slips 
up and down on the heel, or if it digs into the skin at the 
top of it, blisters or abrasions will form very quickly. An¬ 
other common place for blisters is on top of the foot where 
the bend of the shoe rubs the skin. 

Between the toes there may be blisters and in the “web,” 
or the deep angle of the toes, there may be fissures or cracks. 

Rubbing the feet too vigorously with a rough towel may 
hurt the skin. 

Standing too long or walking too far may damage the 
tissues of the feet. Possibly the dye of the stockings or the 
chemicals used in tanning the leather of the shoes may affect 
the skin. It is certainly true that stockings which are full of 
holes, or too tight, may result in harm. 

Excessive sweating of the feet softens the skin and leaves 
it more liable to irritation. Likewise, undue dryness of the 
skin predisposes to cracking. 

Needless to say, the first consideration necessary for 
healthy and uncomplaining feet is to wear none but properly 
fitting shoes. 

It is unfortunate that comfort and the good of the feet 
are usually secondary to the “looks” of the shoes and their 
“style.” 

The average person has but one pair of “good” shoes at 
a time. There is no economy in this plan, and it certainly is 
a mistake so far as the good of the feet is concerned. Noth¬ 
ing can be more restful than changing from damp and hot 
shoes to a dry and cool pair. Even though they are made 
on the same last, the fit will vary and the second pair will be 
comfortable in spots placed under pressure by the first. 

When you change your shoes, change your stockings, too. 
If you are one of the unfortunate persons who suffer from 
excessive perspiration of the feet, bathe them in cold water 
daily, dry with a towel, and dust them with a powder con¬ 
sisting of equal parts of cornstarch, boracic acid, and stearate 
of zinc. 

Once a day rub with a solution of ten per cent salicylic 
acid in alcohol. Immediately after this, having dried the 


80 


SORE AND BLISTERED FEET 

feet, apply a ten per cent solution of formalin, or one one- 
thousandth solution of permanganate of potash, which is 
enough of the crystals dissolved in water to make a wine-red 
liquid. 

When once you have found a make and size of shoe com¬ 
fortable to your feet, be slow to change to other shapes and 
makes. If you have tender and easily irritated feet, you 
must forget the ebbing tides of style. 

If a blister forms, clean the foot thoroughly with soap 
and water. Wash your hands perfectly clean. Sterilize a 
needle by passing it through the flame of a match, and wipe 
it off with a piece of clean gauze or cotton. Then prick the 
blister open at its edge. Carefully press out the fluid, taking 
care not to break or tear the skin over the blister. Paint 
the blister and surrounding parts with a two or three per 
cent solution of iodine. Then cover with a thin pad of gauze 
and strap it in place with adhesive plaster. 

Cracks or fissures between the toes may be swabbed out 
with iodine. Or a five per cent solution of tannic acid in 
glycerine, or tincture of benzoin may be applied. If this 
treatment does not suffice, it may be necessary to use a more 
active remedy, like silver nitrate in ten or fifteen per cent 
solution. This is carefully swabbed into the crack. 

After this treatment, the fissure must be protected against 
dirt by covering it with a bit of gauze. 

The feet are entitled to more care than the average man 
gives them. They must be kept clean, dry, and in good con¬ 
dition. 


FEVER BLISTERS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. In the early stage apply alcohol, spirits of camphor, 
cologne, or other alcoholic lotion. 

2. If the blisters continue, apply boracic acid, bicar¬ 
bonate of soda, zinc oxide, saltpeter, or alum. 

3. Avoid touching the blisters with grease or water. Do 
not handle. 


M ANY a pretty girl has been humiliated because she had 
a fever blister. Any sore about the mouth or an erup¬ 
tion anywhere on the face is a source of embarrassment to 
the victim. 

Fever blisters are vesicles or blisters usually located 
around the mouth. They may appear on the nose or else¬ 
where on the body. No matter where they are situated, the 
condition is called herpes. 

This condition, while it comes at all ages, is most com¬ 
mon in youth. It may accompany indigestion. 

You may notice fever blisters about the mouth following 
a prolonged visit to the dentist. There is more or less un¬ 
avoidable bruising of the lips in the* course of a long dental 
session. This does not mean infection, although in some 
cases where the teeth and mouth are in bad condition there 
is this danger. 

It is quite the common thing to have herpes in the course 
of influenza, pneumonia and other infectious diseases accom¬ 
panied by high fever. “Cold-sores” are of the same nature, 
and may follow the common cold. 

You will notice discomfort and even pain in the lips or 
affected part. This continues for several hours, and gradu¬ 
ally the sore spot gets red and swollen. Then a few small 

blisters form on the surface. They are filled with clear fluid. 

81 




82 FEVER BLISTERS 

Pretty soon these blisters may run together. Then the 
contents become milky. Next they dry up, forming brown 
or yellow crusts. After a week or so the scab comes off, 
leaving for a time a red spot. The whole process takes about 
ten days. 

Herpes isn’t “catching” or infectious. Some persons 
seem to be predisposed to the trouble and are apt to have 
repeated attacks. 

A discharging ear sometimes excites a similar condition 
on the lobe of the ear. 

In children it may appear on the cheek. In rare instances 
it attacks the inside of the mouth, or even the eyes. 

There are other attacks of herpes which seem to be a 
sort of reflex condition from some remote or nervous 
trouble. 

In the beginning of herpes the trouble may be headed off 
by applying some alcoholic lotion. Pure alcohol, spirits of 
camphor, borated alcohol, or cologne will serve this purpose. 

Failing in your effort to abort the trouble, you should 
apply a powder of some sort. Boracic acid, bicarbonate of 
soda, and zinc oxide are useful. 

Water and greases are harmful. The part should be kept 
dry. Saltpeter or alum applied to the sore spot will hasten 
the cure. 

Keep your fingers off the blister. The hands ought never 
to be applied to the face except when you wash it. Your 
hands come in contact with dirt, filth, and germs. You can¬ 
not avoid picking up material which is capable of poisoning 
the delicate tissues of the face. 

Recurring attacks of herpes about the mouth should ex¬ 
cite your suspicion. They may be due to bad teeth, sup¬ 
purating gums, diseased tonsils, suppuration in the nasal 
sinuses, or intestinal disturbances. If the fever blisters 
occur elsewhere and constantly recur, careful search should 
be made to locate the cause. 


FILTH CONDITIONS 

(itch, “cooties” and head lice) 


WHAT TO DO 
For Itch 

1. The victim should scrub the skin thoroughly with 
soap and water. 

2. Rub the following preparation well into the affected 
parts every morning and night for four days: Pre¬ 
cipitated sulphur, four drachms; vaseline or lard, four 
ounces. 

3. Follow with a hot bath and clean garments. 

4. Destroy the old clothing and bedding, or sterilize 
them by boiling or by steam. 

For “Cooties” 

1. Boil, steam, or bake all infected clothing. 

2. Apply the above sulphur ointment once or twice. 

3. Follow with a hot bath and clean clothing. 

For* Head Lice 

1. Apply equal parts of kerosene and olive oil, and allow 
to remain on over night. In the morning rinse with 
hot vinegar and wash thoroughly with hot water and 
soap. 

2. Repeat the treatment if necessary. 


W AR-TIME conditions gave many a fastidious American 
boy a taste of filth and vermin. His female relatives 
would faint at a recital of bis sufferings. 

Bad housing, with serious overcrowding, must result in 
a great increase in the filth conditions. 

Whenever a considerable number of the population have 

83 




84 


FILTH CONDITIONS 


any of these troubles, all the rest of us are in danger. 
Crowded street-cars, public comfort stations, commercial and 
professional dealings, elevators, bargain counters, and all 
the other intimate contacts of life, give opportunity for the 
transmission of these unpleasant things. 

The itch, or scabies, as the doctors call it, is due to a 
parasite which bores into the skin. 

Whenever there is a bend in the body, like the front of 
the elbow and the back of the knee, on a fold of the skin, or 
between the fingers, there the parasite makes its attack. 
Little blisters form and the itching is intense. Consciously 
or unconsciously the victim scratches and tears the affected 
parts with his finger-nails. The flesh is torn, the blisters 
and pus-filled spots increase, and gradually the disease 
spreads to other parts of the body. 

There are a number of remedies for itch, but the chief 
one is sulphur. Precipitated sulphur, four drachms, to vase¬ 
line or lard, four ounces, makes a very satisfactory salve 
for the desired purpose. 

First, the skin is thoroughly cleansed. An abundance of 
soap and water should be used, and if the skin is not too 
sore, it should be scrubbed with a hand brush. Then the 
sulphur preparation is rubbed thoroughly into all the af¬ 
fected parts. This is done morning and evening for at least 
four days. 

* After the last application the patient takes a hot bath, 
using lots of soap and water. Then he dresses in clean 
underwear and clean outside garments. The old clothing 
and bedding are destroyed or thoroughly sterilized by boil¬ 
ing or by steam. 

“Cooties,” or body lice, live in the clothing, especially in 
the seams of the garments. Chief attention must be given 
the clothes. These must be boiled, or steamed, or baked 
until all the offending parasites and their eggs are killed. 

After getting rid of the infected clothing, the victim 
should bathe in an abundance of soap and water. Then he 
may apply one of several different preparations. The sul¬ 
phur ointment recommended for the itch is as good as any. 


FILTH CONDITIONS 85 

One or two applications followed by a bath and clean clothes 
will end the trouble. 

Head lice, or “pediculosis capitis/’ as the doctors politely 
name this variety of animal, is more difficult to remove. 

Prepare a mixture of equal parts of sweet oil and ordi¬ 
nary kerosene oil. Saturate the hair and scalp with this 
mixture. Wrap the greasy head in a cloth and leave it in 
place all night. 

In the morning rinse the hair with hot vinegar. Then 
wash the head thoroughly with hot water and soap. 

If necessary, repeat the treatment. Ordinarily one treat¬ 
ment is sufficient. 

If the trouble attacks the hair elsewhere, one part of 
cocculus indicus, with three parts of water or alcohol, may 
be applied several times a day. 

Let it be remembered that practically all vermin are 
carriers of disease. Not only are they disagreeable com¬ 
panions, but they are a menace to health. 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Loosen the collar and clothing. 

2. Protect the victim so that he cannot injure himself. 

3. If the attack is known to be epileptic, pry open the 
mouth and insert a rolled-up handkerchief, stick, or 
other object between the teeth to prevent tongue- 
biting. 

4. Do not give restoratives, as in fainting. 

5. If the attack is hysterical, let the patient alone. At¬ 
tention will augment the symptoms. 

6. For convulsions (not epileptic) in small children, 
see the chapter on Convulsions in Children, Part I. 


T HERE are a number of English words we do not like. 

They are almost as positive in their effects upon the ear 
as is profanity. One such word is fit . 

Whether a fit is a mild distortion, or one of those body¬ 
twisting, muscle-contracting, facial-distorting convulsions, it 
is an unhappy thing for victim and onlooker. 

There may be frothing at the mouth, struggling, biting 
of the tongue, screaming, talking or singing. Sometimes 
there is bending backward of the body, so that it rests on 
the heels and head. There may be apparent unconsciousness 
and very faint breathing. 

These are among the many symptoms, or groups of symp¬ 
toms, which are popularly described by the one word fit. 

Convulsions, or fit-like attacks, are found in epilepsy, 
Jacksonian epilepsy, tetany and hysteria. Infants are liable 
to have convulsions under the conditions which produce chills 
in grown persons. 

If you are at all familiar with the convulsive diseases, and 
those which have convulsions among their manifestations, 
you will know at once what ailment you are confronting. 




FITS 


87 


In epilepsy the attack comes on suddenly. With a loud 
cry the victim falls to the ground and passes at once into 
the fit. The eyes and head are drawn to one side. The 
muscles of the chest and abdomen are so rigidly contracted 
as to interfere seriously with breathing. The teeth close 
down on the tongue, causing it to bleed, and the corners of 
the mouth become foam covered. 

In Jacksonian or partial epilepsy there are convulsive 
movements of the muscles of the limbs or face. The twitch- 
ings always begin in the same muscle and proceed for some 
time before consciousness is disturbed, if it is at all. 

This is entirely different from true epilepsy where there 
is always complete and immediate loss of consciousness. 

In tetany there are muscular spasms in the hands or feet 
and more rarely in the face or elsewhere. The constric¬ 
tion may last several days, or it may disappear in a few 
minutes. 

In hysteria, which is most likely to attack young adults, 
there may be all sorts of nervous symptoms, made worse by 
expressions of sympathy. If the patient is left alone they 
disappear, only to begin again when some one approaches. 

The treatment of a person in a fit depends on the nature 
of the attack and its cause. In epilepsy the first thing to do 
is to pry the mouth open and insert a piece of wood or other 
solid substance or a rolled-up handkerchief between the teeth, 
to guard the tongue. 

The corset, collar and clothing should be loosened. Then 
the patient should be so placed and guarded as not to be in¬ 
jured during the convulsive movements. 

Hysterical fits are more difficult to treat. Pressure with 
the thumbs over the bony notches lying under the eyebrows 
near the nasal ends, will compress the nerve and cause the 
patient to come out of the fit to scold you for your rough¬ 
ness and rudeness. 

Needless to say, the underlying trouble must be removed, 
and appropriate treatment directed to the cause of the 
ailment. 

(See also Convulsions in Children; Epilepsy .) 


FOREIGN BODIES IN THE SKIN 


(eefebeing paeticulaely to splintees, fish-hooks, and 

PIECES OF METAL) 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Wash your own hands thoroughly and cleanse the 
skin of the victim. 

2. Apply a seven per cent solution of iodine to the 
wound and its vicinity. 

3. Pass a needle through the flame of a match or other 
fire and then insert under the end of the splinter. 
Grasping the splinter between your finger and the 
needle, pull it out of the flesh. Should the splinter be 
large, it may be necessary to use a knife-blade, which 
must be sterilized in a flame and cooled. 

4. If a fish-hook enters the flesh, push it forward and out, 
so that the hook can be filed or cut off, when the 
shank is easily removed. 

5. Wash out the wound, apply a seven per cent solu¬ 
tion of iodine, and bandage the part. 


S PLINTERS and pieces of metal are constantly wounding 
the skin and sometimes remaining in the body. What 
will happen as a result depends on the size of the foreign 
body and whether or not germs and poisonous materials are 
carried into the wound. 

Nothing is more painful than to have a splinter down 
under the finger-nail. When this happens, it may break off 
a fraction of an inch from the end of the nail, making it dif¬ 
ficult to remove. 

A rusty nail, or other infected thing, may enter the skin, 
producing a disagreeable wound, as well as giving the pos¬ 
sibility of pus or more serious infection. 

Every boy has had a fish-hook thrust into his face or 

88 



89 


FOREIGN BODIES IN THE SKIN 

hand. If it goes in past the barb, this accident presents 
peculiar difficulties. The barb prevents the extraction in the 
ordinary manner. If taken out backwards, there is serious 
tearing of the tissues. 

In removing a fish-hook it is safer to push the point for¬ 
ward and out through the skin. Then the barbed end can be 
cut or filed off, making it a simple matter to pull the shank 
out of the flesh. 

In the treatment of splinter wounds pains must be taken 
to remove the dangers of dirt and germs. To this end, the 
parts must be thoroughly cleansed with soap and water. 
Your own hands and nails must be washed and cleaned be¬ 
fore undertaking any handling of the wound. 

After the injured part is cleansed, apply iodine to the 
wound and its vicinity. Then it is ready for the removal of 
the foreign body. 

A needle should be passed through the flame of a match 
or other fire. This kills the germs which otherwise it might 
carry into the wound. If the splinter is too big to be re¬ 
moved with a needle, a knife-blade must be sterilized with 
heat and cooled. 

The needle or blade is passed under the end of the 
splinter. The foreign body is grasped between the needle 
and your finger and pulled out of the skin. 

If the splinter is under the finger-nail, it may be neces¬ 
sary to cut the nail carefully, just enough to expose the end 
of the splinter. Then it can be removed exactly as if it were 
in the skin. 

After the bleeding has stopped, iodine is painted on the 
parts, and a bandage applied. 

The wound should be watched to make sure there is no 
infection. Should it become pussy or painful, see your doc¬ 
tor at once. 


FRACTURE OF THE SKULL 


WHAT TO DO 

1. If fracture of the skull is suspected, call the doctor 
at once. 

2. Put the patient to bed and keep him quiet. 

3. Keep his head raised on several pillows. 

4. Apply ice-packs to the head. 

5. An operation may be necessary. 


W HEN Nature planned the protection of the brain she 
made every effort to guard it effectually against all 
conceivable injuries. She enclosed it in a sphere of strong 
bone. Then, to make assurance doubly sure, she made this 
bone of two layers. 

The result of all these wise precautions is that fracture 
of the skull and injury of the brain are comparatively rare. 
It takes a very hard blow or fall to damage these structures. 

When the injury is severe enough to break bone, it is 
usually one layer or table that is fractured. 

Contre-coup is a term used to describe a fracture or in¬ 
jury where the force of the injury is applied to one side of 
the head, and the damage is found on the opposite side. It is 
similar to that phenomenon occurring when the first of a row 
of billiard balls is struck, resulting in the last of the line 
flying away. 

This theory was disputed by some eminent surgeons, but 
the experience of the World War has demonstrated its truth. 

Most fractures of the skull are confined to the base, or 
lower part. The vault, or dome, of the skull is much less 
likely to break. 

The automobile is responsible for a tremendous increase 
in cases of this form of fracture. This machine travels with 
such speed that if one is struck, he is hurled to the ground 

90 



FRACTURE OF THE SKULL 91 

or pavement with sufficient force to crack or shatter the 
skull. 

After an accident of this sort there is bleeding from the 
nose and mouth. Blood may run from the ear. Pretty soon 
the bleeding stops and clear fluid—the brain fluid—flows. 
The whites of the eyes may be suffused with blood. Paralysis 
of the facial muscles, or of the eye muscles, may be noted. 

About sixty per cent of cases of fracture are quickly 
fatal. If the victim lives for two days, his chance of ulti¬ 
mate recovery is excellent. 

The effects of fracture of the skull depend on the part of 
the brain damaged and the extent of the injury. Fractures 
at the base of the skull are more dangerous, because in this 
part of the brain are many important regions, controlling 
vital functions of the body. 

Following fracture of the skull, the victim may have very 
slight symptoms and be able to walk home. In other cases 
there are profound effects: unconsciousness, difficult and 
noisy breathing, and weak pulse. 

Until the doctor comes, the patient should be kept quiet. 
Ice-packs or cold compresses to the head are useful. Keep 
the head high by using a couple of pillows. 

An operation may be needed to lift the broken bone, but 
usually the progress is favorable if the first few days are 
safely passed. 


FROST-BITE, OR CHILBLAINS 


WHAT TO DO 

i. Paint the chilblains with a solution of iodine crystals, 
collodion, and ether in the proportion of five grains 
of the iodine, to an ounce of collodion, and two 
drachms of ether. 


E VERY mode of life has its joys and its penalties. There 
is a fascination about the desert with its open spaces 
and the wonderful colorings. The stars seem nearer and 
existence is like a dream. But there are vipers and poi¬ 
sonous insects to make life uncertain. 

The mountains hold the eye, and to climb them is a privi¬ 
lege. But under that jutting rock may be a den of rattle¬ 
snakes. 

The city dweller has the advantages of urban life, but he 
may live in an apartment which is overheated and poorly 
ventilated. He wears clothing so thin that he is chilled when 
he goes into the open. As a result, he contracts catarrhal 
troubles which annoy him for a lifetime. 

The resident of a small town, or the rural inhabitant, has 
the joys of intimate friendships and the association of kin¬ 
dred minds. But there are defects in his manner of living 
and in his personal habits which are likely to lead to trouble. 

Any house heated by stoves is sure to have cold floors. 
Having lived in the country and in a small town, I know 
exactly what it means to go into the kitchen in the morning 
to build a fire in the cook-stove, preparatory to breakfast. 
Your breath makes a vapor as dense as the smoke which soon 
curls up the chimney. Your fingers tingle and your feet are 
like ice because the floor is like ice. 

Even when the room is comfortably warmed by the gen¬ 
eral heat of the fire, the floor remains cold. The underlying 

92 



FROST-BITE, OR CHILBLAINS 93 

basement is cold. More than likely the kitchen is a 4 4 lean-to, ” 
without basement, and possibly with scant foundation, leav¬ 
ing the space under the kitchen to be swept by the icy blasts 
of winter. 

What happens to the poor housewife! She develops chil¬ 
blains. Her heels and the sides of her feet are 44 frosted,’’ 
and for the rest of the winter she must endure the torture 
of this miserable ailment. 

The farm-hand who wears heavy woolen socks and boots 
which are too snug in their fit suffers from sweating feet, 
subsequent chilling, and the natural effects of the impaired 
circulation caused by the tight boots. 

Policemen, stone masons, motormen, and all others who 
are exposed to inclement and chilling weather are in danger 
of developing frost-bite. 

It is important to protect the feet by proper shoes and 
stockings. These should be suited to the occasion, because 
sweating feet and damp stockings are factors in the develop¬ 
ment of chilblains. Dress according to necessity. 

When you get home with thoroughly chilled feet, you 
probably stand over a hot register or stick your feet in the 
oven. This is not the thing to do. You should take off your 
shoes and stockings, put your feet in cold water, and then 
rub them with a coarse towel. This treatment will restore 
the circulation in the frosted tissues and spare you months 
of misery from chilblains. 

If chilblains have actually developed, here is a formula 
which will give you great relief: 

Iodine crystals, five grains; collodion, one ounce; ether, 
two drachms. Paint this on the chilblains every day. This 
will stop the itching and protect the skin. 


GUNSHOT WOUNDS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Call the doctor. 

2. Wash your own hands with soap and water, clean 
your finger-nails, and wash your hands again. 

3. Have the water and all implements to be used well 
boiled and the dressing surgically clean. 

4. Control bleeding. (For directions see chapter on 
Bleeding, or Hemor'rhage, Part I.) 

5. Apply a seven per cent solution of iodine to the wound 
to overcome any accidental germ infection. 

6. Keep the victim quiet in bed, surround him with hot- 
water bottles or hot bricks, taking care not to burn 
the skin, and cover him with blankets. If hot-water 
bottles or bricks are not at hand, ears of field corn 
dropped in hot water and wrapped in squares of cloth 
may be used instead. 

7. Make no effort to remove the bullet or to probe the 
wound. Leave that to the doctor. 


P VERY deer-hunting season we are shocked by the fre- 
quent reports of accidental shootings. Shot-guns, pis¬ 
tols, rifles, and toy guns are responsible for daily casualties. 

What happens to the body if it is struck by the discharge 
of a firearm depends on the size of the gun and the distance 
from the injured person. The shape of the missile and the 
structures involved are other factors determining the seri¬ 
ousness of the accident. 

If the injury is caused by a single ball and it passes 
through the body or part, the wound of entrance will be 
smaller than the wound of exit. Sometimes a bone will de¬ 
flect the bullet and cause it to leave the body at some point 
out of the line of fire. 

Naturally the charge from a shot-gun will cause more 

94 




GUNSHOT WOUNDS 95 

contusion and tearing of the tissues than a single bullet will 
produce. Such a wound is likely to contain clothing and 
perhaps some of the wadding of the gun. 

In an accident of this sort, you should interfere with the 
wound as little as safety permits. The first thing to do is 
to stop the bleeding. Firm pressure with gauze or clean 
linen will usually control the hemorrhage. If it does not, a 
tourniquet may be applied. A handkerchief knotted around 
the limb, or a piece of cord or rope tied about it, can be 
tightened by twisting it with a stick. 

You must bear in mind how essential it is to keep the 
wound clean. I refer to surgical cleanliness. Your hands 
must be thoroughly washed with soap and water. Then the 
finger-nails should be cleaned, and the hands washed again. 

The dressings—gauze, cotton, and bandage—must be 
scrupulously clean. The fluids used must be boiled and 
cooled. The dishes and implements must be boiled and 
cooled. 

(See also Bleeding, or Hemorrhage; Tetanies.) 


HEAD, PAIN IN THE 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Clear the bowels by a rectal injection of warm, soapy 
water, or a dose of salts. 

2. If pain is severe, put the sufferer to bed in a dark¬ 
ened room. 

3. A mild mustard plaster to the back of the neck may 
help. 

4. Cold compresses to the head are often soothing. 


H EADACHE is the common name for pain in the head. 

It should be studied like any other pain. It is not so 
easy to determine the cause of this particular pain, because 
the cause may be a distant one. It is hardly ever due to any 
trouble in the head itself. 

Nine times out of ten you will find your headache is due 
to stomach or intestinal trouble. Indigestion, overeating, 
and food poisoning are the most common causes for head¬ 
ache. 

Late hours, loss of sleep, lack of ventilation, excessive 
smoking, overuse of the eyes by reading, or at the theater 
or movie, worry—all of these are factors. 

Frequently, constipation is present. The body is not 
eliminating its waste products. The poisons are being ab¬ 
sorbed, and the headache is merely a symptom of their toxic 
effects. 

What shall be done to stop the pain! The common thing 
is to take some headache powder or wafer. The frequent 
employment of such drugs is dangerous. If you feel you 
must take something, it is better to take a dose of salts, or 
some other rapidly acting remedy, to give speedy relief from 
the effects of the constipation. A rectal injection will accom¬ 
plish the same result in many instances. 

96 



PAIN IN THE HEAD 


97 


These suggestions may give you immediate relief, but you 
must not forget that by getting rid of the headache you have 
not cured the real trouble. If this symptom occurs repeat¬ 
edly, there is something wrong with your bodily functions. 
By proper eating, regular hours, plenty of sleep, and venti¬ 
lation, the body will probably return to normal. 

Do not neglect to regard the kind warning of Mother 
Nature. She sends you pain to let you know you are vio¬ 
lating the rules of life. 

(See also Constipation; Headaches, Causes and Kinds of; 
Indigestion.) 


HEARTBURN, OR HYPERACIDITY 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Give one-fourth of a teaspoonful of the following 
preparation in one-third of a glass of water: Bismuth 
subcarbonate, one ounce; magnesium oxide, one-half 
ounce; bicarbonate of soda, one-half ounce. Or take 
a teaspoonful of baking soda. 

2. If constipated, give a rectal injection of warm, soapy 
water. 

3. Have the sufferer try to relax the muscles of the 
body and remain quiet. 

4. Have the sufferer go at least four hours without food. 


H EARTBURN is the name given the burning sensation in 
the stomach and the gulping up of food and gas that 
comes on an hour after eating. 

These symptoms are signs of indigestion. They do not 
necessarily indicate serious disease. Indeed, they may show 
nothing more than undue sensitiveness of the lining mem¬ 
brane of the stomach. This portion of the anatomy is just 
like every other part of the body. It may get sore and ten¬ 
der and irritable because you have abused yourself by late 
hours, overeating or drinking, overwork, loss of sleep, worry, 
or bolting of food. 

These nerves of ours get on edge if we neglect to care 
for them. When once they are upset, there is no knowing 
where the symptoms will strike. The lining of the stomach 
has its network of nerves and blood-vessels. When this 
structure is disturbed, then heartburn may be expected as 
one of the forms of Nature’s protest. 

When your digestion fails, no matter how little, take care 
to correct your wrong habits. Too often such trouble indi¬ 
cates neglect. 


98 




HEARTBURN, OR HYPERACIDITY 99 

Of course, heartburn may be the sign of real hyperacidity, 
due to habitually wrong eating or to constipation. Certain 
foods do not agree, and their use is followed by gas forma¬ 
tion and belching. 

More than half the population suffers from chronic con¬ 
stipation. Unless the bowels function promptly and uninter¬ 
ruptedly, there is sure to be excessive acidity of the secre¬ 
tions, indigestion, and sleeplessness. 

Perhaps the chief cause of heartburn is the stomach dis¬ 
turbance due to imperfect or delayed intestinal action. To 
have a movement daily proves nothing. It may mean the 
evacuation of the waste of food eaten several days before. 
Unless there is prompt and regular action, the body is sure 
to suffer. Heartburn is a certain sign of some physical 
failure, and this particular symptom is very likely to be a 
prominent feature of the breakdown. 

Carelessness in diet is fundamental to stomach disturb¬ 
ances. There is amazing ignorance on the part of thousands 
about how and what to eat. Too many schools teach every¬ 
thing except how to live. Nothing is more vital than knowl¬ 
edge of food values, food combinations, food incompatibili¬ 
ties, and the proper preparation of food. 

Appetite is a terrible master, and heartburn is Nature’s 
gentle rebuke. Nature will bear with you for a time, doing 
nothing worse than giving you this little pinch. But watch 
out! Kidney disease, ulcer of the stomach, and even worse 
ailments may be waiting you. Therefore, remove the causes 
of your heartburn and bring your body back to health and 
vigor. Chronic constipation is commonly present. Over¬ 
come this by following the instructions given in the chapter 
on Constipation, Part II. 

Take one-fourth of a teaspoonful of this preparation in 
a third of a glass of water three hours after each meal: 
Bismuth subcarbonate, one ounce; magnesium oxide, one- 
half ounce; bicarbonate of soda, one-half ounce. Eat slowly 
and chew your food well. 

It is most important that your diet be rearranged. Here 
is a list of foods that may and may not be taken in this 


100 HEARTBURN, OR HYPERACIDITY 

condition. Foods that may be taken: light vegetable broths 
and purees of spinach, asparagus, carrots, green peas and 
potato; raw oysters, soft portion only; fresh fish of the 
whiter kinds, boiled or broiled with sweet butter or cream, 
but with no rich sauces; beef, chopped or scraped and lightly 
cooked, or freshly stewed; broiled beefsteak; rare veal; 
lamb; chicken, broiled or roasted or freshly stewed and 
never overdone (all these meats cold or in the form of jelly); 
ham, slightly cooked; soft-boiled, poached, scrambled eggs 
or omelet; toast, zwieback, crackers, graham bread, oatmeal 
as light porridge or gruel, or a broth; fresh spinach, as¬ 
paragus, peas, carrots, mashed potato—in some cases only 
as purees, well-cooked, mashed or strained with milk or 
cream, olive oil or fresh butter added if agreeable; junket, 
egg junket, well-cooked rice and milk pudding (with very 
little sugar), custards with sugar, baked apples, and stewed 
fruits, if agreeable, and sometimes Dutch or Swiss cheese; 
milk, plain or peptonized or flavored with tea, or very weak 
tea or coffee once a day; Apollinaris, Vichy, Seltzer, pure 
water, buttermilk, Bulgarian sour milk, whey, and light 
cocoa. 

Foods that must not be taken: rich soups or chowders; 
stews or hashes with rich gravies; fried foods; pickled, 
corned, or cured meats (except ham as above); salted, 
smoked or preserved fish, or fatty fish of any kind; rich, 
heavy cheese, pastry, cakes, pies, candies, ice-cream, nuts, 
acid fruits, spices, condiments, ice-water, malt spirituous 
liquors. 

(See also Constipation; Indigestion .) 


HICCOUGH 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Let the sufferer sip a little cold water, or swallow a 
bit of ice, or hold the breath for a few moments. 

2. If these measures fail, he may lie down on the back, 
draw up the knees enough to relax the abdominal 
walls, and have somebody press the fingers into his 
muscles just below the ribs, pressing inward and 
upward.' 

3. If the symptom persists, give an emetic of one tea¬ 
spoonful of mustard flour, or two teaspoonfuls of 
salt, to a pint of tepid water. 

4. In a child, hot moist applications over the stomach 
will usually stop the attack. 

5. In an infant, change the position and use gentle 
pressure or massage over the stomach. 


L OTS of folks are susceptible to hiccough. Eating too 
1 much or too rapidly will bring it on. Drinking a large 
amount of water and gulping it down may cause an attack. 

If you are the subject of frequent attacks of this annoy¬ 
ing symptom, you should seek out the reason. It may be 
Nature’s protest against the habit of bolting your food and 
gulping your drinks. Every child should be taught from his 
earliest appearance at the table that hasty eating is a crime 
against health. 

For the acute attack sip a little cold water. Sometimes a 
swallow of water or swallowing a bit of ice will give imme¬ 
diate relief. Holding the breath will stop many cases. 
Catching the tongue with a towel and pulling it outward may 
stop others. 

Pressure on the diaphragm is almost always successful. 
Let the victim lie on his back and draw up the knees enough 
to relax the abdominal walls. Then press your fingers into 

101 




102 


HICCOUGH 


his muscles just below the ribs. On deep pressure inward 
and upward, holding the fingers firmly against the ribs, the 
spasm will usually disappear. 

If the symptom persists in spite of every effort, the vic¬ 
tim may be given an emetic. Emptying the stomach is very 
likely to stop the trouble at once. 

In an infant, change of position may stop the hiccough. 
Gentle pressure over the stomach or massage may cause 
expulsion of the swallowed air and thus give relief. 

Hot fomentations over the stomach and watchfulness of 
the bowel movements, to make sure they are regular and 
ample, will correct the trouble in a child. 

Certain drugs are used to control persistent hiccoughing. 
If the simple measures recommended do not relieve, then 
your physician will prescribe for you. Remedies known as 
“anti-spasmodic” may be necessary. 

Bear in mind that hiccough is not a disease. It is merely 
a symptom, but it is audible evidence of some indiscretion 
on your part. You are eating too fast, too much, or the 
wrong sort of food. Analyze your eating habits and thus 
discover the cause of a symptom, painful to you and annoy¬ 
ing to others. 

(See also Heartburn; Indigestion.) 


HOARSENESS, OR LARYNGITIS 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Give a tablespoonful of castor oil or a rectal injec¬ 
tion of hot water. 

2. Put the sufferer to bed with the windows open. 

3. Have him gargle with hot water, or spray the throat 
with hot boracic acid solution, or with a teaspoonful 
of bicarbonate of soda to half a pint of water. 

4. If the condition does not respond quickly, consult 
the doctor. 


B ELOW the tonsils, between the back of the mouth and 
the bronchial tubes, is a part of the breathing apparatus 
called the larynx. On the outside of the throat is a promi¬ 
nence, very large in some persons, and often referred to as 
“Adam’s apple.” This is made of plates of gristle, or car¬ 
tilage, and is the front of the voice box. Stretched across 
the inside of this hollow space are the vocal cords. All these 
structures and parts make up the larynx. 

Like all other divisions of the breathing machinery, the 
larynx is lined and covered in its every part by very thin 
and delicate tissue, the mucous membrane. Like mucous 
membrane elsewhere in the body, the lining of the larynx 
may become inflamed. When it becomes diseased the condi¬ 
tion is called laryngitis. 

Just what happens in laryngitis depends upon what parts 
of the larynx are involved and the severity of the inflam¬ 
mation. 

The first symptom is hoarseness. It hurts to talk. There 
may be some aching and feeling of discomfort in the throat. 

Whenever there is inflammation in any part of the throat 
—tonsils, pharynx, or larynx—there is a constant inclination 

103 



104 HOARSENESS, OR LARYNGITIS 

to swallow. It may hurt, but like the impulse to stick the 
tongue in the hole from which a tooth has been pulled, the 
temptation to swallow is difficult to resist. 

In the acute cases there may be some fever, increased 
heart action, headache, and general discomfort. 

In the chronic forms there is always a change in the voice. 
It may he simple hoarseness, or complete loss of the power 
to speak. Considerable mucus is coughed up, and possibly 
some blood. Coughing at times is a prominent symptom. 

Certain callings demand excessive use of the voice. 
Hucksters, auctioneers, orators, singers, preachers, teachers, 
and salesmen are particularly prone to laryngitis. It is not 
so much prolonged use of the voice as it is improper use 
which results in laryngeal congestion and inflammation. One 
of the great virtues of vocal training is that it teaches the 
right uses of the vocal organs. The trained voice rarely suf¬ 
fers from prolonged use. 

Extension of a catarrhal inflammation from the nose and 
upper part of the throat may account for the laryngitis. You 
know the mucous membrane, beginning in the nose, passes 
down over the pharynx, through the larynx, into the bron¬ 
chial tubes. There is no arbitrary division, marking the end 
of one organ and the beginning of the next. It is like a one- 
piece garment. 

If you have neglected nasal catarrh, you may get catarrh 
of the middle ear, or laryngitis. The disease process'simply 
spreads and extends. This is especially true if your general 
health is none too good. 

Being in a dusty atmosphere, too long in bad air, breath¬ 
ing in great quantities of tobacco smoke, or drinking alco¬ 
holic beverages to excess may excite the trouble. Consti¬ 
pation and indigestion are important factors. 

Needless to say, recurring attacks of laryngitis should 
lead you to a study of your habits, of your voice methods, 
and of your general health. 

In an acute attack open the windows and go to bed. 
Keep warm. Open the bowels. Gargle the throat with hot 
water, if it is not too sore. If there is much discomfort, 


105 


HOARSENESS, OR LARYNGITIS 

spray the throat with hot boracic solution or some alkaline 
solution, as a teaspoonful of soda to half a pint of water. 

Steam inhalations are useful. If the trouble does not 
respond speedily, you should consult your doctor. 

(See also Catarrh, Nasal; Cold, Why We Should Not 
Neglect a Common; Constipation; Indigestion; Sore Throat; 
Tonsils , Enlarged .) 




INDIGESTION, OR DYSPEPSIA 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Give a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda to half a 
glassful of water. 

2. Put the sufferer to bed and keep him quiet. 

3. Apply hot-water bottles to the feet and the abdomen. 

4. Have him refrain from all food, particularly milk, 
for several hours after the symptoms have disap¬ 
peared. 

5. If the attack continues, give a rectal injection of 
warm, soapy water. 

6. If attacks recur frequently, consult the doctor. 


P ROBABLY the most common disease of the human 
family is indigestion. Indigestion and dyspepsia are 
names given to a group of well-known symptoms: headache, 
pain in the stomach, belching of gas, nausea, vomiting, and 
more or less fever. 

Indigestion is caused by your own faulty method of feed¬ 
ing—taking the wrong food or too much food—or it is sec¬ 
ondary to some disease of the heart, liver, nervous system, 
kidneys, or intestines. In short, it is due to a multitude of 
causes. It is really a symptom, or a group of symptoms, 
instead of being a true disease. 

You will see at once that indigestion cannot be treated 
in one particular and unvarying manner. There is no 
“cure-all,’’ or “specific” for dyspepsia. There never can 
be a “cure” or a serum for its relief. Neither can there be 
found a vaccine or other preventive agent. 

Acidity of the stomach is a pretty constant symptom of 
indigestion. This can be neutralized, and many of the un¬ 
comfortable sensations of indigestion will disappear as a 

106 




INDIGESTION, OR DYSPEPSIA 107 

result. But the underlying cause has not been treated; 
merely the effect has been controlled by this treatment. 

The first rule of treatment in any disease is to remove 
the cause. As you can imagine, this is not easy to accom¬ 
plish in indigestion. There is a multitude of possible causes, 
and some of them are so intangible and elusive that they 
are hard to locate. In the occasional attacks of indigestion 
plainly due to indiscretions in eating, your good sense tells 
you how to avoid the trouble. 

Everybody who drives an automobile knows that if you 
feed too much gasoline it “chokes’’ the engine, stops the 
combustion, and slows the engine, or makes it impossible 
to start the machine. Everybody who ever built a fire in 
a furnace or in a kitchen range knows that the fire is ‘ ‘ put 
out” if the fire-pot is crowded with coal. The fire cannot 
burn if it is covered and choked with too much fuel. 

The stomach is not unlike the combustion chamber of an 
engine or the fire-pot of a stove. 

If you overload the stomach, you choke the digestive 
processes. 

An automobile won’t burn water, and a furnace can’t bum 
stone. Suitable food must be supplied or the fire goes out. 

If you fill it with improper and indigestible food, the 
stomach refuses to act. Too much food and the wrong sort 
of food are rebelled against by the stomach. These rebel¬ 
lious acts constitute the symptoms of indigestion. 

Needless to say, we can carry our comparison too far. 
The stomach is, in many respects, quite unlike an inanimate 
automobile or furnace. It is a living thing, possessing 
blood-vessels, nerves, muscles, glands, and lining membrane. 

Even though reasonable quantities of proper foods are 
fed into the stomach, it may fail to act and present all the 
symptoms of indigestion. In such a case, it is necessary to 
learn the causes of your special kind of indigestion and to 
avoid them. 

For the attack itself, refrain from all food until several 
hours after the disappearance of all the symptoms. Take 
particular pains to avoid milk. 


108 INDIGESTION, OR DYSPEPSIA 

Empty the stomach and bowels. Take a teaspoonful of 
bicarbonate of soda in half a glassful of water. If this does 
not give relief, tepid soda or salt solution—one teaspoonful 
to a pint of water—or half a teaspoonful of mustard flour 
to a pint of water makes a good emetic. 

Go to bed, keep perfectly quiet, apply a hot-water bottle 
to the feet and another to the abdomen. Have the room 
dark and try to drop off to sleep. 

If the attacks of indigestion are frequent, overcome the 
chronic constipation which almost invariably lies at the 
foundation of the trouble. (See chapter on Constipation, 
Part II.) Have the urine examined to see if the kidneys are 
acting properly. 

Bear in mind that a distant organ may be the seat of 
the real disturbance. Eye strain, focal infection from bad 
teeth, diseased tonsils, or infected nasal sinuses may be the 
cause. 

In general, however, your own bad habits—late hours, 
excessive smoking, overeating, bad food, or hasty eating— 
are the real causes. Good resolutions, followed with deter¬ 
mination, will cure most cases. 

(See also Constipation; Head, Pain in the; Headaches, 
Causes and Kinds of; Heartburn; Vomiting, Violent .) 


INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Call the doctor at once. 

2. Have the sufferer lie down with hips elevated, and 
give a rectal injection of warm, soapy water. Use 
large quantities of water, with the fountain syringe 
raised slightly above the level of the body, so there 
will be no force. 

3. Apply hot fomentations to the abdomen, using a 
large towel dipped in water as hot as can be borne 
and changed frequently. A few drops of turpentine 
may be added to the water. Over the wet towel 
keep a dry one. 


A NYTHING- interfering with the normal discharges from 
• the body is. sure to produce grave results. Failure of 
the skin functions, stoppage of the kidney action, and ob¬ 
struction of the bowels—all these are serious experiences. 

Intestinal obstruction may be unsuspected until there 
comes on an attack of terrific pain. At first there are 
spasms of pain, occasional, but severe. The paroxysms be¬ 
come more frequent, and it is not long before the pain is 
continuous. 

The pain differs from the agony of appendicitis in that 
it is in the middle line of the body. In inflammation of the 
appendix the pain is likely to be on the right side of the 
abdomen, in the region between the navel and the hip-bone. 
This is a one-sided pain and much lower down than are the 
symptoms which are found in intestinal obstruction. 

Of course, if the lower bowel—the large intestine—is 
involved, the pain may be low down, but even then it is 
usually in the middle line of the body. There is a vulgar 

109 





110 


INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION 


expression which will describe it—“belly ache.” But pretty 
soon it is more than an ache—it becomes excruciating pain. 

Complete constipation is to be expected. The water of 
a rectal injection may return with some fecal matter, but 
when everything below the obstruction has been removed 
the water returns clear. 

The third symptom is vomiting. The material first ex¬ 
pelled is like all vomited matter, but pretty soon it is green 
with bile. Then comes a fluid brown in color and fecal in 
odor. 

The obstruction dams up the intestinal contents. As they 
ferment, the gases accumulate and produce increasing dis¬ 
tention of the abdomen. 

The effects of this trouble on the general symptoms are 
profound. The face is pinched, the pulse is rapid and faint, 
and cold sweat bathes the skin. Pretty soon there may be 
more or less fever and great thirst. 

The treatment depends on the origin of the obstruction. 
The most common cause is impaction of the feces. To get 
rid of the trouble, do not make use of purgatives or 
cathartics. 

Employ large quantities of warm water, injecting it very 
slowly into the bowel. Have the patient lie down on his 
back, elevating the hips. Take great pains to use no force. 
To this end the fountain syringe should be raised very 
slightly above the level of the body. 

Hot fomentations may be applied to the abdomen. Dip 
a large towel in water as hot as can be borne. Over this 
spread a dry towel. Have frequent changes; keep the water 
hot. A few drops of turpentine added to the water may be 
helpful. 

There is always need of careful medical attention, and 
even surgical treatment may be required. On this account, 
there must be no failure to call your doctor at once. 

(See also Cramps .) 


IVY POISON 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Dip gauze or a clean cloth in a solution of one part 
of the fluid extract of Grindelia robusta to six parts 
of water, or in a solution of washing soda, and lay 
it on the affected part. 

2. To relieve the itching, apply a solution of a table¬ 
spoonful of hyposulphite of soda to one quart of 
water. 


T HERE are a .few plants that are poisonous. In our 
country, North and South, East and West, the most 
common of these is the so-called poison ivy. 

The scientific name is Rhus toxicodendron . It is some¬ 
times referred to as poison oak. 

This plant may be a little shrub, two or three feet high, or 
it may stand up to the height of a man’s head. When it 
finds something to lean upon, such as a stone wall or a tree, 
it grows as a vine. In a few years it will cover to the very 
top a great dead tree. When left to itself the trunk of the 
vine may become as thick as your forearm. 

No one need be ignorant of the identity of this plant. It 
has a bright green, smooth, glossy leaf. The leaves appear 
in groups of three, or, as the botanist would say, they are 
“trifoliate.” You will recognize it immediately and distin¬ 
guish the poison ivy from all other similar plants, because 
the stem of the middle leaf is always longer, two or three 
times longer, than the stems of the two other leaves. 

Some persons are very susceptible to the poison of ivy. 
It seems almost as if the very air blowing across the plant 
is impregnated with its poison. Especially if he is warm 
and perspiring, the sensitive person is easily poisoned by 
the slightest contact. 

111 





112 


IVY POISON 

In a few hours there is redness of the exposed parts, 
swelling, burning and itching. Little blisters form; they 
increase in number and size, and may become infected. The 
discomfort may be very great, and the disease sometimes 
resembles erysipelas, having fever and prostration. The 
constitutional symptoms are often surprisingly severe. 

If you suspect you have come in contact with poison ivy 
and, as a matter of fact, always after gathering wild flowers 
or pushing through the vines and shrubs in wild places, you 
should wash your hands and face with quantities of soap and 
water. Alkaline solutions, like a solution of baking soda, 
borax, or ammonia, may be used. 

The best local remedy I know anything about for ivy 
poisoning is Grindelia robusta. The fluid extract, one part 
to six parts of water, may be applied. Gauze or cloths 
dipped in this solution and laid on the .part will promote 
comfort. Sometimes creolin is added to advantage. 

Buttermilk and crude petroleum are the local remedies 
sometimes recommended. For the intense itching, hypo¬ 
sulphite of soda, a tablespoonful to a quart of water, will 
give relief in many cases. Never use irritating remedies. 

Do not fail to take along a bottle of Grindelia and a 
package of hyposulphite when you pack your bag for a trip 
to the country. 


LOCKJAW, OK TETANUS 


WHAT TO DO TO PREVENT AN ATTACK 
For a punctured wound where dirt is carried deeply 
into the tissues 

1. Wash your own hands with soap and water. 

2. Swab out the wound well with boiled water and 
sterilized cotton, removing all foreign material. If 
sterilized cotton or gauze and water are not at hand, 
use the cleanest water possible and a clean handker¬ 
chief. 

3. Apply plain tincture of iodine or, preferably, a twenty 
per cent tincture of iodine. 

4. Have the sufferer see the doctor, who will give 
tetanus antitoxin. 

5. If he cannot see the doctor within a few hours after 
the injury, you should cauterize the wound with 
pure carbolic acid immediately after cleaning it. Be 
extremely careful not to burn the skin around the 
wound. As an added protection to the skin, you may 
smear vaseline around the wound. Take a tooth¬ 
pick or sharply pointed stick, wrap the point with 
cotton, dip this in pure carbolic acid, wipe off any 
excess of acid with alcohol, and thrust the point for 
an instant into the wound. 


A S a rule, the first symptoms of lockjaw are met about ten 
■ days after the infection. They are almost always stiff 
neck and difficulty in moving the jaws. The patient may first 
observe the trouble when at meal-time he finds it difficult to 
chew his food. 

Before these symptoms are noticed, there may be a sen¬ 
sation of chilliness, or the patient may have an old-fashioned 
shaking chill. Then the muscle difficulty appears and grows 
gradually worse. 




114 


LOCKJAW, OR TETANUS 

Pretty soon the muscles are so affected that the jaw is 
tightly closed. For this reason the disease is called lock¬ 
jaw. The scientific name is tetanus, and it is due to a germ 
found in dirt. The germ grows in the intestines of sheep, 
horses, cows, and other animals. Any soil contaminated by 
such animals may be infected with the germ of tetanus. 
Should a human being be unfortunate enough to break his 
skin and at the same time receive into the wound any such 
inoculated soil, he may become the victim of lockjaw. 

Like all communicable diseases, there appear to be cer¬ 
tain conditions favorable to the growth of the germ. When 
these are met, the likelihood of infection is increased. Hot 
weather is one of these conditions. The reason why lock¬ 
jaw is so common after Fourth-of-July accidents is because 
gunpowder explosives result, not only in damaging the body, 
but also in kicking up so much disturbance in the dirt im¬ 
mediately adjacent that contamination of the wound with 
soil is almost inevitable. Then, the Fourth coming in hot 
weather, the conditions are ideal for the development of the 
germ of lockjaw. 

Until the scientific world taught the value of the serum 
for the prevention of lockjaw, every Fourth of July was fol¬ 
lowed by dreadful tales of suffering and death from this 
awful disease. One of the achievements of medicine is the 
gratifying record of the army surgeons in lessening the other¬ 
wise terrifying death rate that must have followed the mil¬ 
lions of injuries from shell explosions in the late war. As 
a matter of fact, so efficacious was this treatment, that the 
deaths from lockjaw were almost negligible. 

All of us must rejoice in this advance, because it saves 
many lives and because the death is so terrible in its agony. 
The muscles of the trunk become involved. There are spasms 
so pronounced that the body bends back upon itself. Some¬ 
times these spasms are so great that the sufferer rests upon 
his heels and head, the middle of the body is lifted from the 
bed, and the extremities are drawn almost together. The 
whole body is rigid, so powerful are the muscular contrac¬ 
tions. 


LOCKJAW, OR TETANUS 115 

At the same time the muscles of the throat contract, as 
if the neck were fixed in a vise. The victim is unable to 
speak or to swallow. 

It is not pleasant to recount the symptoms of this dread¬ 
ful disease. If they were inevitable, I should not talk about 
them. But, I am glad to say, there are ways of escaping 
lockjaw, even should you be so unfortunate as to be injured 
under circumstances that would make its onset probable 
without treatment. 

A wound should never be neglected. Every injury where 
the skin is broken should receive attention. But if you re¬ 
ceive a punctured wound, for instance, from driving a nail 
into the hand, or any sort of an injury where dirt is carried 
deeply into the tissues, you should give it careful treatment. 
This is the sort of wound in which the lockjaw germ would 
thrive. 

After cleaning out the wound with sterile water, remov¬ 
ing all the foreign material, and drying it, pure carbolic 
acid should be used. This should he carefully applied, so 
that the acid cannot run over surrounding parts and make 
unnecessary burns. The excess of acid may be removed 
from the implement used to apply it, by alcohol. 

Another excellent application is plain tincture of iodine, 
or, better still, twenty per cent tincture of iodine. 

Every household should have its iodine, to apply to cuts 
and other injuries. 

It is never safe to neglect the use of the tetanus antitoxin 
in Fourth-of-July or other gunpowder accidents. Any doc¬ 
tor will tell you where to get the antitoxin. 


LUMBAGO, OE BACKACHE 


(KNOWN ALSO AS RHEUMATISM OF THE BACK AND NEURALGIA 
OF THE BACK) 

WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Put the sufferer to bed. 

2. Rub capsicum vaseline on the affected region. 

3. Apply a towel wrung out of water as hot as can be 
endured, for fifteen minutes out of every two hours, 
changing every few minutes. Keep this covered with 
a dry towel. 


HENEVER we see a man pressing his hands on the 



V V small of his back as he struggles to his feet from a 
sitting position, we suspect he has lumbago. 

Muscular rheumatism is liable to attack any of the 
muscles of the human body. In the small of the back, be¬ 
tween the hip-bones and the ribs, is a mass of muscles, the 
loins. When rheumatism attacks this group we call it 
lumbago. 

Everybody knows how rheumatism acts. It is exactly 
the same when it takes the form of lumbago. Exposure to 
wet or cold may produce it. An injury from a fall or a 
blow, straining the back from lifting, or unusual exercise, 
sudden chilling when perspiring, or a prolonged draft of 
cold air on the back, may excite the trouble. 

The attack may come on suddenly and be so severe that 
the victim can hardly turn himself in his bed. 

Lumbago is usually unaccompanied with fever or consti¬ 
tutional symptoms. The local symptoms subside in a few 
days. Recurrences, however, are exceedingly common. The 
victim of one attack of lumbago is likely to suffer a good 
many other attacks. 


116 



LUMBAGO, OR BACKACHE 117 

You have not gone to the bottom of your study of lum¬ 
bago unless you give attention to the general condition of 
the patient. It is considered nowadays that some sort of 
infection is responsible for the difficulty. 

The teeth must be examined by a competent dentist. If 
there is suspicion of trouble at the roots, they should be 
X-rayed. If pyorrhea is present, it must receive attention. 

The tonsils sometimes contain pus pockets. The theory 
of so-called “focal infection’’ has been overemphasized in 
some quarters, but it is just as true that its importance is 
being overlooked by many. On this account, the tonsils and 
nasal sinuses should be inspected by somebody competent to 
pass judgment on their condition. 

Intestinal indigestion, or sluggish intestinal action, may 
be responsible for the absorption of toxic substances and 
the onset of the lumbago. No treatment is complete unless 
this difficulty is corrected. 

The kidneys and skin must be active. Underelimination 
by these organs may be responsible for the lumbago. 

I speak of all these possible causes to enable the sufferer 
to analyze his own condition. By removing the exciting 
cause, the lumbago will disappear as by magic. 

The pain of the acute attack may be relieved by hot 
fomentations. Apply a large towel wrung out of water as 
hot as you can bear. Change this every few minutes, keep¬ 
ing up the treatment fifteen minutes out of every two hours. 

Capsicum vaseline rubbed on the back before applying 
the hot compresses may be helpful. Likewise various forms 
of electricity have been successfully employed. 

The patient should be in bed during the acute attack. A 
few days of quiet and hot compresses will usually end the 
trouble, for the time at least. Removal of the underlying 
cause will bring about a permanent cure. 


LUNGS, FOREIGN BODIES IN THE 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Take the victim to the doctor who, by means of the 
X-ray, will determine the presence and the place of 
the foreign body. 

2. If it is found to be in the lung, it can be removed by 
use of the bronchoscope in the hands of a skilled 
physician. 


A STEEL tack or similar object in the lungs would have 
resulted in death not many years ago. It is different 
now. Modem invention has been applied to lots of formerly 
hopeless conditions, and to-day there is every prospect of 
relief for many of them. 

Among the ingenious devices for dealing with such cases 
is the bronchoscope. This is a delicate, flexible, electric- 
lighted instrument which can be inserted in the throat and 
passed down into the windpipe. Through it can be seen the 
offending substance in the upper part of the lung, and with 
delicate long-shanked forceps the object can be caught and 
removed. 

The modern instruments of precision have done marvelous 
things for the human family. For instance, the X-ray is of 
the greatest value in cases where foreign bodies have been 
swallowed or thought to have been swallowed. The X-ray 
pictures will determine the presence of and locate the offend¬ 
ing object. 

In the terrible fright of the victim of such a mishap, he 
may have spasms, agonies of pain, vomiting, and other vio¬ 
lent symptoms. That these are sometimes caused purely by 
emotion is shown by a classical case recorded in the medical 
books. 

A man swallowed his false teeth. Jumping from his bed, 
118 




FOREIGN BODIES IN THE LUNGS 


119 


he went into contortions because of the pain in his throat 
and stomach. The family rushed him to the doctor, and 
everybody was in a hysteria of excitement. About that time 
a messenger arrived with the pleasing information that the 
teeth had been found under the bed where the owner had 
placed them on retiring! 

The X-ray settles all these questions. It determines with 
unfailing accuracy the presence and the place of the foreign 
body. Then with the bronchoscope, if the object is in the 
lung, it can be seen, and the skilled doctor can remove it. 

Fortunately, such accidents are uncommon. In rare cases 
only do bad effects follow. 


MENSTRUATION, DIFFICULT 

(known also as dysmenorrhea and painful periods) 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Give a tablespoonful of milk of magnesia to open the 
bowels. 

2. If the flow has not started, the sufferer should remain 
for half an hour in a hot bath, or soak the feet in hot 
water in which a tablespoonful of mustard has been 
dissolved. 

3. Rub capsicum vaseline over the lower abdomen, or 
if the pain is very severe a mustard plaster may be 
applied. 

4. Have the patient go to bed and apply hot-water bot¬ 
tles, hot bricks, hot sand-bags, field corn dipped in 
boiling water and wrapped in cloths, or flannel 
dipped in hot water, to the abdomen and feet. 

5. Give a teaspoonful of viburnum compound in hot 
water every hour for three or four hours. 


mHERE is much misinformation as to the causes of diffi- 
cult menstruation. Most persons believe that a woman 
must be exceedingly careful of herself at all times. She is 
advised against physical exertion, running up and down 
stairs, lifting, and dozens of other things. 

To my mind much of this talk is nonsense. If a woman 
is normal and vigorous, she can do most of the things a man 
can do. A recent study of this question, made by a group 
of scientists and teachers, resulted in the conclusion that a 
girl can do about everything a boy does except play football. 

Painful menstruation is apt to be due to local troubles. 
These should be determined by the family doctor. It is 
wicked for a woman to suffer for years, when proper atten¬ 
tion would remove the cause of her periodical pain. 

120 




DIFFICULT MENSTRUATION 


121 


Taking cold, exposure to cold or wet, unusual mental 
anxiety, late hours, and dissipation are things which may 
cause trouble at the menstrual time, particularly if they 
occur just before the flow is due. Anything interfering with 
the general health, such as undernourishment, may be pro¬ 
ductive of such low vitality as to emphasize the painful 
symptoms of that critical period. 

Fresh air, systematic exercise, and especially careful 
attention to the stomach and intestines, are essential to the 
proper operation of this function. Plenty of sleep is vitally 
important. 

It is remarkable what favorable results follow the relief 
of constipation. Many a sufferer from dysmenorrhea has 
had almost perfect comfort on the removal of the constipa¬ 
tion. 

At this time I shall not discuss the permanent relief of 
difficult menstruation. The family doctor will do this after 
he decides upon the cause. I do wish to advise about meas¬ 
ures which will promote the comfort during the attack. 

The first thing to do is to take a tablespoonful of milk 
of magnesia. This will open the bowels. 

For the relief of pain, heat is the best local application. 
If the flow has not started, a half-hour in a tub of hot water 
will be helpful. 

Hot-water bottles, hot bricks, hot sand-bags, field corn 
dipped in boiling water and wrapped in folds of cloth, or a 
big piece of flannel dipped in hot water—one of these will 
provide the heat. 

A hot foot-bath, perhaps with the addition of a table¬ 
spoonful of mustard, will be helpful. 

Sometimes a mustard plaster low down near the spine 
will help to control the pain. Capsicum vaseline over the 
lower abdomen is a good application. 

Internally, viburnum compound, a teaspoonful in hot 
water, is a common remedy. This should be repeated every 
hour till three or four doses have been taken. 


NOSEBLEED 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Have the sufferer sit upright and apply cold water or 
ice to the nose and face for a few minutes. 

2. If bleeding continues, pulverize a piece of alum or 
tannic acid and let him sniff a very small amount of 
it up the nose. 

3. Adrenalin chloride on a tampon of cotton pushed 
into the nose will stop nearly any case of nosebleed. 

4. Packing the nose with cotton or gauze may be tried. 

5. If all these measures fail, send for the doctor. 

6. Keep the sufferer as quiet as possible. 


A NY sort of bleeding is a thing which must have imme- 
diate attention. One of the most common of human 
emergencies is nosebleed. Everybody should know what to 
do to stop it. 

Some folks have nosebleed every day, every night, or at 
least on very frequent occasions. They awaken from sleep 
to find blood pouring from the nose. 

Nosebleed may result from injury, from local disease, or 
from some systemic disturbances. 

Certain diseases of the kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart 
produce congestion and may cause nosebleed. Some acute 
fevers have bleeding from the nose as one of the symptoms. 
Measles, influenza, pneumonia, diphtheria, whooping-cough, 
scarlet fever, and especially typhoid fever are such diseases. 
Anemia and other ailments where the blood quality is re¬ 
duced may have nosebleed as one of the complications. At 
certain periods of life women may have this symptom. High 
blood pressure is another cause, according to popular belief. 

All the things I have enumerated are causes of nosebleed, 
it must be admitted. But there is a much more common 

122 



NOSEBLEED 123 

cause, and I never think of any of these serious factors until 
I have excluded the one I am about to mention. 

Everywhere in America nasal catarrh is extremely com¬ 
mon. Our changeable climate and manner of living are 
responsible for frequent colds. The average person gives 
no more heed to a cold than he does to the barometer. The 
effects of one cold have not disappeared entirely until an¬ 
other one is “caught.” The result is that the nasal lining, 
the mucous membrane, is constantly congested. 

In consequence of the never-ending congestion, the tis¬ 
sues become thick and inflamed. Degenerative processes set 
in, and pretty soon tiny ulcers are found. The mucus dries 
on the ulcerated surface, forming a little scab. This is 
blown off or picked off and then the surface bleeds. Every 
time the scab is removed there is an attack of nosebleed. 
Sneezing loosens the covering and causes bleeding. 

Then there are the frequent nosebleeds from accidents. 

Most boys like to box. But whether they like it or not, 
even though they are pretty peaceful chaps, they will get 
into a 4 ‘scrap” now and then. The first weapon is the fist, 
and the most remote outpost of the body is the nose. What 
happens when an irresistible force strikes an immovable 
object? In this case it is a “bloody nose.” 

Grown people have their troubles, too. They may run 
into trees, open doors, the corner of the book-case, or the 
wagon tongue. Once in a while the fist is a factor, even in 
grown people. 

Some young children take particular joy in packing 
things up their noses. Beans, pebbles, corn, and a dozen 
other things I have removed from the noses of children. 

The child may not succeed in getting the thing into the 
nose, but he may wound the tissues enough to cause furious 
bleeding. Awkward handling of a table fork, or of a pencil, 
may produce a puncture of the nasal membrane and be fol¬ 
lowed by bleeding. 

It makes little difference what causes bleeding; when an 
attack of nosebleed occurs it must be stopped. 

Cold water or ice applied to the nose and face will con- 


124 


NOSEBLEED 


trol a simple case. Do not lean over, because this helps to 
increase the bleeding. Sit upright and continue the cold ap¬ 
plication steadily for a few minutes. 

There are some medicinal substances which are useful if 
the bleeding is profuse. In every household there is a chunk 
of alum. Pulverize a piece of this and sniff it up the nose. 
Tannic acid may be used in the same manner. 

One of the best agents to stop bleeding is adrenalin 
chloride. Peroxide of hydrogen, too, is helpful. It may be 
used full strength. 

Adrenalin and other like products are such useful things 
that in the first-aid kit of every household there should be 
a bottle. A tampon of cotton, wet with adrenalin and 
pushed into the nose, will immediately stop nine out of ten 
attacks of nosebleed. 

Packing the nose with cotton or gauze will control most 
all cases. 

If these simple measures do not stop the bleeding, call the 
doctor. With a head mirror and a good light he will locate 
the bleeding point and apply treatment directly to it. 


PARALYSIS, OR APOPLEXY 
(known also as a stroke) 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Send for the doctor at once. 

2. Place the sufferer quietly in bed, laying him on one 
side with his head slightly raised. ' 

3. Loosen his clothing, especially any about the neck. 

4. Throw open all the windows in the room. 

5. Apply an ice-cap or cold compress to his head and 
hot-water bottles to his feet. 

6. Do not try to make him swallow anything. 


W HEN one passes middle age he faces all sorts of bodily 
dangers. Death armed with a club is waiting round 
the comer. Just when the blow will fall is the only uncer¬ 
tain thing about the whole miserable business. 

This may seem a gloomy thought, but the certainty of 
the ultimate outcome need not discourage us. The bright 
lining to the cloud is that good sense and right living will 
go far towards postponing the unhappy day. 

Early death from one of the so-called “natural” causes 
is almost invariably the fault of the victim or of his an¬ 
cestors. If early death does not come because of the delib¬ 
erate misdeeds of his life, it comes as the result of his igno¬ 
rance of the laws of Nature. 

The old maxim, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” is 
nowhere more applicable than to the experiences and effects 
of physical misconduct. One may have the character of an 
archangel, but if he mistreats his body he must pay the 
penalty. 

I doubt if many persons deliberately and wilfully do 
those things they ought not to do. My faith in humanity is 

125 




126 


PARALYSIS, OR APOPLEXY 

such that I prefer to believe ignorance and thoughtlessness 
are responsible for the bad habits of many evil-doers. The 
fact is, however, the average person indulges in more than 
one harmful physical habit. 

It is far too common an experience to learn of the un¬ 
expected death of some friend or prominent citizen, carried 
off by apoplexy. So sudden is the attack and so prostrating 
is it in its immediate effects that this disease has been well 
named “a stroke/’ 

Apoplexy is due to the rupture or the plugging of a blood¬ 
vessel in the brain. In the first case, the blood escapes into 
the brain tissue. In the second, a clot is formed in the blood¬ 
vessel. In either, pressure is placed on important nerve 
centers, producing unconsciousness and loss of muscular 
power. 

Sometimes such an attack comes without the slightest 
warning. In other cases it may be preceded by headache, 
dizziness, and general discomfort. The immediate attack 
may be ushered in with vomiting, or the patient may fall 
as if struck on the head. 

The breathing is slow and noisy. The face is red or 
purple. The eyes are congested. The temperature may be 
unaffected, or it may rise above normal. 

On return to consciousness, it will be discovered that one 
arm, or one leg, or all of one side of the body, is useless. 
There may be confusion of mind and thickness of tongue. 
The exact nature of the symptoms will depend, of course, 
upon the part of the brain involved and the extent of the 
bleeding. 

If the attack does not end in immediate death, or in a 
fatal issue within a few days, recovery is probable. The 
future depends upon the original cause of the first attack. 
The causes of apoplexy are hardening of the arteries, alco¬ 
holism, syphilis, vascular tumor, obesity, infectious diseases, 
and various other conditions. The immediate attack may be 
brought on by overexertion, violent emotion, acute indiges¬ 
tion, drunkenness, or any condition that drives the blood to 
the head. 


127 


PARALYSIS, OR APOPLEXY 

Needless to say, when once one has had an attack of this 
sort, he dreads a recurrence. He begins to live the sort of 
life which, if lived from early years, would have insured 
against the condition. 

There is an old proverb which says, “We dig our graves 
with our teeth.’’ The greatest factors in the production of 
hardening of the arteries • are excessive eating, improper 
food, and neglect of the digestive tract. By beginning in 
earliest life to guard the teeth against wrongful use, to keep 
out of the mouth deleterious articles of food and drink, and 
to keep the digestive tract in a healthy condition, these three 
causes of apoplexy need be given no consideration. A clean 
life avoids the chief remaining causes. 

Poise, training in self-control, avoidance of excesses of 
every sort, and temperance in all things, will create such 
calmness of mind and spirit as to leave little danger from 
the immediate causes of ruptured blood-vessels and apoplexy. 

A person suspected of being stricken with apoplexy 
should be placed gently in bed, in a quiet, darkened room. 
The head should be slightly raised without bending the 
neck, and the body turned upon the side so that the tongue 
will not fall back. All clothing should be loosened, espe¬ 
cially any about the neck. An ice-cap should be placed on 
the head, or, if one is not to be had at once, cold-water com¬ 
presses may be applied instead, and hot-water bottles cov¬ 
ered with flannel placed near the feet. 

Do not try to make the patient swallow anything. Send 
for the doctor immediately, and try to keep the sick person 
as quiet and comfortable as possible until he arrives. 

(See also Bright's Disease; Hardening of the Arteries .) 


PINKEYE AND ACUTE CONJUNCTIVITIS 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Consult the doctor. 

2. Drop three drops of one per cent zinc chloride solu¬ 
tion in the eyes every three hours. 

’3. Do not rub the eyes or touch them with the hands. 
4. The sufferer should be careful not to communicate 
the infection to others. 


TN pinkeye, or conjunctivitis, redness of the lids and eye- 
* ball will be noticed at once. In such a case, if the lower 
lid is pulled gently away from the eye-ball, flakes of mucus 
are found swimming in the supply of tears. On awaking in 
the morning the eyelids are glued together by the hardened 
secretion. 

In uncomplicated conjunctivitis there is little or no pain. 
There may be some smarting and burning, a feeling of 
heaviness, and possibly slight sensitiveness to light. Bad as 
the eyes look, there is little suffering. 

The degree of pain any inflammation may cause depends 
to a considerable extent upon the firmness or elasticity of 
the structure involved. If it is in the covering of a bone, 
due to a bruise of some sort, there is great pain, because 
the tissues are unyielding, and, as a result, the sensitive 
nerves are pinched and utter their protest. 

The mucous membrane lining the eyelids and covering 
the white part of the eyeball is loose and soft. There must 
be a lot of swelling to take up all the slack, so to speak. 
Consequently, there is little pain in conjunctivitis. 

Such an inflammation of the eye is due to some sort of 
an infection. There are several germs which may cause it. 
The rapidity and severity of the inflammation depend upon 
the form of the germ. 


128 




PINKEYE AND ACUTE CONJUNCTIVITIS 129 


A certain form of conjunctivitis is communicable. This 
variety is called pinkeye. 

Pinkeye appears at certain seasons and may attack every 
child in the schoolroom. The discharges are left by the 
hands of the victim upon the door-knobs or the toilet articles. 
Thence they are taken by the hands of others and, by wiping 
the eyes, are conveyed to the eye tissues. 

If the trouble does not clear up speedily, or if the pain 
and redness increase, the doctor should be consulted. 

Children should be taught to keep their hands from their 
faces, particularly from their eyes. Rubbing the eyes is a 
bad practice. If the lids feel irritated, it is probable there 
is eye strain and the need of glasses. Find the cause of the 
irritation. Too often children are counted dull and stupid 
who do not deserve such a description. The whole trouble 
may be due to poor vision, or the inability to study without 
pain. Full justice has not been done the child until the eyes 
are tested. 


POISONING 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 


1. To produce vomiting, give a teaspoonful of mustard 
flour in a pint of warm water. Or give thirty grains 
of zinc sulphate or powdered ipecac dissolved in 
warm water, and repeat in half an hour if the first 
dose does not produce vomiting. If-none of these 
are at hand, give two teaspoonfuls of table salt in a 
pint of tepid water. 

2. For carbolic acid poisoning, give half an ounce of 
epsom salts or Glauber’s salt in a glassful of warm 
water. Lacking these, give white of egg in large 
quantities of warm water. 

3. For iodine poisoning, give large quantities of com¬ 
mon starch in water. White of egg, especially if 
taken mixed with milk, is also valuable. 

4. For wood alcohol or “hootch” poisoning, give an 
emetic (1) and quantities of strong coffee. Keep the 
victim warm and apply heat to the chest over the 
heart. 

5. Omit food. 

6. Send for the doctor. 


E read of so many cases of poisoning that it is a good 



▼ ▼ thing for every household to have some knowledge of 
what to do in such an emergency. It is well to have in 
storage the ingredients for overcoming the effects of poi¬ 


soning. 


The first thing a doctor tries to do in such a case is to 
empty the stomach. If he has his instrument bag with him, 
he will use the stomach-tube to wash out the stomach. 

Of course the layman is not expected to use this ap¬ 
paratus. He must trust to emetics to free the system of 


130 




POISONING 131 

any nnabsorbed poison. Anything which will produce 
vomiting without poisonous effects is a suitable emetic. 

What can be found in every home which can be employed 
as an emetic? 

The simplest thing is common salt. In half a pint of 
tepid water dissolve two teaspoonfuls of salt. Have the 
victim drink the whole quantity. 

Salt cannot be depended on, so we must have some other 
household remedy to accomplish the thing we seek to do. 
One of the very best emetics is mustard. Dissolve a tea¬ 
spoonful of mustard flour in half a pint of water. This is 
likely to be effective and should be taken as soon as possible. 

Powdered ipecac, in thirty-grain doses, is one of the un¬ 
certain drugs. A better one is zinc sulphate. Taken in 
thirty-grain doses, it is a reliable, safe, and promptly acting 
emetic. If the first dose does not act, repeat it in half an 
hour. Use plenty of warm water for a solvent each time. 
The tepid water alone is an important aid to bring about 
vomiting. 

There can be no doubt that prompt and effective meas¬ 
ures to produce vomiting have much to do with recovery 
from most poisonings. 

The most common of all kinds of poisoning is that due 
to carbolic acid. Whether taken for suicidal purposes or 
by mistake, it produces symptoms which are exceedingly 
painful and likely to prove fatal unless the victim is 
promptly and skillfully treated. 

Never keep carbolic acid or any other poison about the 
home unless the bottle is plainly labeled. 

In almost every house can be found epsom salts or 
Glauber’s salt. In case of carbolic acid poisoning, a half- 
ounce of either should be dissolved in a half-pint of warm 
water and the mixture swallowed. 

White of egg in large quantities of warm water is useful. 

Warmth and stimulation are indicated. 

Another drug commonly taken by mistake is iodine. The 
antidote is starch—common laundry starch. Dissolve the 
starch in water and administer in large quantities, 


132 


POISONING 


Arrowroot, gruel, and other starchy things, while not as 
good as the pure starch, are useful. As in other cases of 
poisoning, white of egg is valuable, especially if beaten up 
in milk. 

In wood-alcohol or “hootch” poisoning, give an emetic 
and quantities of strong coffee. Keep the sufferer warm and 
apply heat to the chest over the heart. 


POISONING, FOOD OR PTOMAINE 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Give a large quantity of tepid water to which mus¬ 
tard flour is added in the proportion of a teaspoonful 
to a pint of water. If mustard is not at hand, use 
the same amount of baking soda. Sticking the finger 
down the throat may help to produce vomiting. 

2. Put the sufferer to bed and keep quiet after the 
stomach and bowels have been emptied. 

3 . Omit food for several hours after the symptoms have 
been relieved. 

4. If the symptoms are severe, send for the doctor. 


P TOMAINE poisoning is a term used to describe the ill¬ 
ness due to taking bad food. When first employed it 
was applied to the poisoning from the chemical products of 
putrifying food. But now it is the popular way of naming 
any sickness following the eating of decomposed, germ¬ 
laden, or poisoned food, no matter how the poisonous mate¬ 
rials entered it. 

There is a popular idea that “bad” food is of necessity 
decomposed and vile, or tainted, in taste. This is not the 
case. For instance, oysters and clams may be perfectly 
sound and wholesome in and of themselves, but the water 
contained within the shell may be infected with the germs of 
diarrhea or of typhoid fever. In the body of the oyster, too, 
may be the germs of disease. 

Meat and canned vegetables may be chosen by a harmful 
germ as a place to propagate. One such germ is known as 
the “bacillus botulinus.” The foodstuff was perfectly good 
when it was canned, but there was an accidental contamina¬ 
tion with this bacilli. They grew and multiplied till the 
whole can became infected and dangerous. 

133 




134 FOOD OR PTOMAINE POISONING 

What happens to fruit or vegetables after canning de¬ 
pends largely on the temperature of the storage room. 
Every good housewife demands a refrigerator or a cool 
cellar. The perfect preservation of canned goods is deter¬ 
mined by the adequacy of the cooling system. 

When good material is properly prepared and canned, 
there is no reason why it should not keep indefinitely. 
When a can of well-canned fruit or vegetables is taken in 
the hand, it is found clean. The label is unstained by fluids 
which have escaped under the cap or from some other leak. 

On opening the can there is a sweet, fruity or vegetable 
odor. If there is an unnatural or offensive smell, something 
is wrong. 

The juices or fluids of the can are clear and sparkling. 
They are not turbid and cloudy. 

Milk, cheese, ice-cream, custard, and all dishes made from 
milk may be breeding places for germs, which in their turn 
produce a violent poison, known as 4 4 tyrotoxicon. ’ 9 

The fungi of certain grains are poisonous. Likewise, 
under certain conditions, the seeds of some plants, and even 
the potato, if eaten after it has sprouted, may be danger¬ 
ously poisonous. 

The symptoms of ptomaine poison are familiar to every¬ 
body. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common. 
Weakness, fainting, cramps, and fever may be present. 

When a person who has been perfectly well is taken ill 
very suddenly there is the possibility of food poisoning, if 
these symptoms are present. You may be quite sure it is 
food poisoning if a whole family, or a group of persons who 
have dined together, are taken ill with similar symptoms. 

The first thing to do is to get the poisonous material out 
of the body. The stomach should be emptied. 

To accomplish this, drink a lot of tepid water. Soda 
added to the water, or a small amount of mustard, will do 
the work usually. 

In case of violent poisoning the doctor may use the 
stomach-pump. If the doctor is not to be had, sticking the 


FOOD OR PTOMAINE POISONING 135 

finger down the throat will cause gagging and vomiting, 
especially after drinking the tepid fluid. 

The bowels should be emptied. For this purpose salts 
may be administered. The sufferer should keep warm in bed, 
be quiet, and try to sleep after the stomach and bowels have 
been emptied. Omit food for several hours. 

Every case known to be food poisoning should be reported 
to the health authorities. This will enable them to trace 
other purchases from the infected source. Cooperation of 
this sort makes for the safety of the public. Your assistance 
may save dozens of others from the misery of food poisoning. 

(See also Indigestion.) 


SEASICKNESS 


WHAT TO DO 
To avoid the attack 

1. Give a tablespoonful of castor oil the night before 
going aboard ship. 

2. One should eat lightly and avoid liquids, especially 
milk and any food which may be tainted. 

3. One should lie still in berth or steamer chair with 
the head supported against something stable. 


For the attack 


1. Keep the sufferer quiet in his berth. 

2. Place a hot-water bottle at the feet and another on 
the abdomen. 

3. A binder around the body is sometimes helpful. 

4. Give three drops of chloroform on a lump of sugar. 


HEN you first get seasickness you are afraid you will 



▼ ▼ die. As you grow worse and more miserable, you 
finally reach a point where your only fear is that you 
won’t die. 

I speak feelingly because I have been seasick. I assure 
you it is a terribly uncomfortable experience. 

In the skull there is a hollowed-out space, providing 
room for the nerve and part of the apparatus of hearing. 
Associated with these structures are three hollow tubes, 
known as the semicircular canals. 

Just as the spirit level establishes the position of an 
object in space, so do the semicircular canals determine for 
the brain the position of the head. No matter in what direc¬ 
tion the head is turned or how it is tilted, it comes into the 
field of one of these canals and the brain receives telegraphic 
news of what the head is about and where it is. 


136 



SEASICKNESS 137 

When you step on shipboard and the old sea gets on a 
rampage, your head bobs and jerks about, until the semi¬ 
circular canals go on the war-path. Then you get dizzy and 
sick at your stomach just as you did as a child when you 
spun about on one foot, to outdo your playmates in that 
game. 

To avoid seasickness, you must keep your head from 
sudden and violent movements. You must make it conform 
to and harmonize with the motions of the ship. 

To this end, lie in your steamer chair with your head 
against its back. If you sit up straight, support your head 
against some stable thing, like the side of the ship or one 
of the pillars, so it won’t bob about. 

Most persons on shipboard feel better in the open air, 
provided they are warmly clad. This out-of-door air keeps 
them from illness. Personally, I prefer the bunk and I 
never get seasick while I stay in bed. 

But, whether you remain in your stateroom or go on 
deck, keep your head against the solid ship. Do not let it 
move about, independent of the grosser movements of the 
vessel. 

Before going aboard ship, clean out the bowels. A good 
dose of castor oil will clean the intestines. There should 
never be neglect of the digestive tract, but it is fatal to com¬ 
fort on shipboard to start your journey with intestinal fer¬ 
mentation. 

Eat lightly and avoid liquids. Get lots of sleep and do 
not enter too violently into the joys of shipboard; especially 
the gastronomic joys, until you are acclimated. It is par¬ 
ticularly important to avoid milk or any food which may be 
slightly tainted. 

I doubt if the food is ever primarily responsible for sea¬ 
sickness, but if the system is much disturbed trifling things 
will precipitate the attack. It is probable, too, that many 
illnesses on shipboard are called seasickness when, as a 
matter of fact, they are merely stomach upsets due to wrong 
eating. 

If you actually get sick, go to bed at once. Avoid food 


138 


SEASICKNESS 


and keep in your berth. Place a hot-water bag at the feet 
and another one on the abdomen. Sometimes a binder 
around the body promotes comfort. Holding ice in the 
mouth or small doses of iced champagne may help. 

There are several remedies which possess virtues. One 
of them is chloroform. Two or three drops taken on sugar 
will soothe the nerves in the stomach and sometimes control 
the vomiting. Several well-known remedies for seasickness 
are on the market. Some of them contain bromides, which 
drugs have some effect in controlling the trouble. 

(See also Car Sickness .) 


SHOCK 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Send for the doctor at once. 

2. Have the sufferer lie down with the head lower than 
the body, and keep perfectly quiet. 

3. Surround him with hot-water bottles or hot bricks 
or stones, taking care not to burn him. Then cover 
him with blankets. 

4 . Give a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia 
in a little water every hour until the doctor 
comes. Small amounts of black coffee can also be 
given. 


T HERE is one particular bodily condition which is always 
alarming. It never comes from a trifling cause and 
can never be treated lightly. This is the state called 
shock. 

The blood-vessels are normally firm and elastic. In 
health they are contracted, resistant to the pressure of the 
blood stream, performing their function as perfectly as 
newly 'laid water-pipes. 

In shock the blood-vessel walls lose their normal quali¬ 
ties. They become soft and flabby and dilate to such an 
extent that the blood, instead of being confined in a warm 
bed over which it makes merrily along, becomes a lazy and 
sluggish stream. The heart beats rapidly, but with little 
effect upon the dilated blood stream. The blood current is 
as lost to its normal action as is a river which has escaped 
its banks and spread itself over the whole valley. 

Terrible injuries, crushing injuries particularly, are fol¬ 
lowed by shock. The injuries received in railroad wrecks 
are usually complicated by this condition. Mangled bodies, 

139 




140 


SHOCK 


crushed limbs, shattered bones, torn nerves, the fright of 
such an experience—all these are conducive of shock. 

Extensive burns, whether by involvement of a large area 
or by deep invasions of the tissues of the body, are fre¬ 
quently followed by shock. 

Some of the tissues of the body are more sensitive than 
others. If these are injured, shock is almost certain to 
occur. The lining membrane of all the cavities of the body 
is such a tissue. The lining of the chest, of the abdomen, 
of the skull, of the big joints, like the knee—injury to one 
of these linings will produce shock. 

The temperature falls below normal. The breathing is 
interfered with, the patient catches his breath, yawns, and 
sighs. His face is as pale as death. Constant demands are 
made for water. Pretty soon nausea, vomiting, and fainting 
are followed by unconsciousness. 

Usually there is no complaint of pain. The patient will 
talk rationally at the time and afterward have no remem¬ 
brance of the event. 

Needless to say, there are many things the doctor can do 
to overcome shock. He has remedies which may be given 
by the hypodermic needle. Of course, the layman cannot 
employ these, but there are measures which he can use and 
which are most helpful. 

The patient should be kept perfectly quiet. Have him lie 
down with his head lower than his body. Raising the foot 
of the bed will accomplish this.- 

Apply blankets and surround the patient with hot-water 
bottles or hot bricks or stones, taking care not to burn him. 
It is wise to cover the heat-conveying things with cloth, so 
as to protect against burning. 

Give a little aromatic spirits of ammonia. Black coffee 
in small quantities will quench the thirst and act as a stimu¬ 
lant. 

(See also Fainting.) 


SNAKE BITE 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Tie a ligature, made of anything at hand, tightly 
about the limb above the wound. 

2. Have the victim suck the blood or poison from the 
wound and spit it out immediately. 

3. Wash out the wound with soap and water, if pos¬ 
sible. 

4. Rub permanganate of potash crystals, if they can 
be had, into the wound. 

5. Keep the patient warm and give half a teaspoonful 
of aromatic spirits of ammonia every half-hour until 
the doctor arrives. 

6. Do not get excited. Bites of native snakes are sel¬ 
dom, if ever, fatal. 


L ATE in the summer when the water dries up in the hills 
1 and mountains, the snakes come down into the meadows. 
They seek water and food. 

It is at this season of the year we are apt to run across 
the dangerous snakes. At all times, of course, the common 
garden, or striped, snake is to be seen. The rattlesnake 
and copperhead are the most familiar varieties of the poi¬ 
sonous snakes. They are occasionally found in many parts 
of North America. 

The remarkable thing is that comparatively few persons 
are bitten by snakes. Instinctively we hate snakes. So in¬ 
born is the dread of them that we consider 4 ‘queer'’ the 
occasional individual who says he likes them. I suppose 
it is the dread of snakes and the constant watching for them 
in the grass and weeds that have guarded us against their 
attacks. 

Fatal effects from snake bite in our country are extremely 
rare. Tropical snakes are larger. They have larger poison 

141 




142 


SNAKE BITE 


glands and, with their bite, inject larger doses of the venom. 
On this account their attacks are more to be dreaded. 

It would be interesting if every fatal or serious condition 
following snake bite could be recorded and studied. This 
would determine how important is the extermination of the 
venomous snakes. 

I have seen animals which had been bitten by snakes, but 
always after a few days of illness they have recovered good 
health. However, there can be no doubt that snake bites 
are to be dreaded and, whether many persons die from this 
cause or not, we should know exactly what to do if bitten. 

The danger comes, not from the immediate effect of the 
wound, because this is very trifling, but from the effect of 
the poison upon the heart and nervous system. On this 
account, the purpose of the treatment is to prevent the 
poison from getting into the general blood supply, by which 
it would be carried to every part of the body. 

Immediately, therefore, the part bitten should be walled 
off from the rest of the body. For instance, if the hand or 
foot has been wounded, a ligature of some sort should be 
tightly tied about the limb, above the wound or between 
the wound and the heart. A string, rope, or torn strip of 
handkerchief or shirt, a shoe-lace, neck-tie, wire, piece of 
grape-vine, flexible switch, or tough bark may be used. 
Whatever is thus employed should be tied firmly, and then 
a stick should be inserted under the ligature and tightly 
twisted. 

The wound should be sucked out and washed with soap 
and water, if they are available. No harm will come from 
sucking the wound. 

Permanganate of potash crystals, if they can be had, 
should be rubbed into the wound. 

The patient should be kept warm, given limited quantities 
of aromatic spirits of ammonia until the doctor arrives. 

There are various serums which may be injected, but 
these should be used by the doctor. They may be had from 
the New York Zoological Garden, or possibly from the local 
Board of Health. 


SORE THROAT 


(known also as pharyngitis and rheumatism of the throat) 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 


1. Give a teaspoonful of castor oil, or a rectal injection 
of warm soapy water. 

2. Have the sufferer gargle the throat every hour with 
hot water, to which bicarbonate of soda may be 
added—a teaspoonful to half a pint of water. 

3. Paint the throat twice a day with one part of tannic 
acid to twenty parts of glycerine. 


NE of the common experiences of life is to suffer from 



a sore throat. I am very sorry, because folks who are 
well and strong and who have lived hygienic lives will not 
have sore throat. 

If you wake up with soreness of this sort, you should 
submit to yourself this series of questions: 

“Have I lost sleep, or have I been sleeping in a poorly 
ventilated place ?” 

“Have I violated the rules of simple living as regards 
food or drink ?” 

“Have I smoked too much, or spent too much time in a 
smoke-filled room?” 

“Am I suffering from the lack of proper intestinal 
action?” 

“Have I neglected to walk in the sunlight and to fill my 
lungs with an abundance of pure air?” 

The answer to one of these five questions will suggest 
the origin of your sore throat. 

Having the symptoms, it must then be determined what 
form the trouble will take. There are a number of diseased 


143 




144 SORE THROAT 

conditions responsible for the pain and inconvenience of 
which soreness of the throat is but the beginning. 

Pharyngitis is one of the most common causes for a 
peculiar raw and scraped feeling. It feels as if all the 
lining membrane of the throat had been tom oft and salt 
rubbed into the raw surface. 

The pharynx is the part of the body between the nose 
and the vocal cords. When you look into the mirror, the very 
back part of the throat, behind the down-hanging uvula, or 
soft palate, is the pharynx. 

The pharynx is lined with mucous membrane, continuous 
with the nasal passages above, the mouth in front, and the 
windpipe below. Any acute cold or catarrhal condition will 
readily extend to the pharynx. 

For some reason or other, when one is run down, out-of¬ 
sorts, constipated, generally “off the feed,” and debilitated, 
the pharynx becomes inflamed. 

• The first day and night there is a feeling of soreness and 
discomfort. The second day the symptoms are worse, and 
the second night is sleepless, so severe is the pain, with con¬ 
stant inclination to swallow. 

The third day the pharyngitis shows improvement, and 
by reason of the lessened pain, as well as the exhaustion 
from loss of sleep, the third night is usually a good one. 
The fourth day marks the end of the discomfort. 

Many clergymen have this trouble; indeed, it is often 
called “preacher's sore throat.” Hospital interns, nurses, 
manicurists, barbers, stenographers, clerks, and all others 
who spend much time in a vitiated atmosphere, are liable to 
attacks. When you have once had it, repeated recurrences 
are to be expected. For this reason, one learns to dread the 
onset of the ailment. 

On the first appearance of the sore throat the bowels 
should be emptied. If the trouble is a chronic one, par¬ 
ticular attention must be given to the correction of consti¬ 
pation, if it is present. 

For the soreness itself, hot-water gargles are useful. 


SORE THROAT 145 

Use the water as hot as can be borne, and repeat every hour 
or two. 

The raw, scraped feeling is due to the excessive acidity 
of the saliva. Bicarbonate of soda may be added to the hot 
water, and will be most grateful. Letting a soda mint dis¬ 
solve in the mouth will promote the comfort. 

An astringent, like tannic acid in glycerine, may be used 
to paint the throat. Dissolve twenty-four grains of the acid 
in one ounce of glycerine. 

Mouth breathing aggravates any form of sore throat. If 
the nasal passages are occluded by thickening of the nasal 
mucous membrane, or if adenoids are present, medical atten¬ 
tion is required. In such event, you should consult your 
doctor. Furthermore, if you are run down and have been 
out-of-sorts for some time, you should see the doctor. 

Remember always, sore throat is but a symptom. It may 
be due to pharyngitis, or it may come from tonsilitis, from 
rheumatism of the muscles of the neck, from a number of 
different diseases. It is wise to determine the exact cause, 
so that no time need be wasted in finding a cure. 

(See also Cold, Why We Should Not Neglect a Common; 
Diphtheria; Hoarseness; Tonsils, Enlarged .) 


SPRAINS AND STRAINS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Elevate the injured part. 

2. Apply cold water or ice. 

3. If the strain or sprain is slight, strap the part with 
adhesive plaster, or firmly bandage it. 

4. Consult the doctor. 


S PRAINS of joints and strains of muscles are among the 
most common of all accidents. 

They vary in severity from a slight stretching or twist¬ 
ing of the tissues to pronounced tearing of the injured part. 

In every such accident skilled surgical care is necessary 
unless the case responds at once to the simple treatment 
which can be applied at home. It is essential to determine 
if the injury is really a sprain, or if possibly the bone has 
been broken. The X-ray may be called into use to make sure 
exactly what has happened. 

The accident may partially dislocate the bones forming 
the joint. They may go back into place, but, of course, the 
ligaments and tissues have been torn or stretched. 

If the ankle, foot, knee, or leg is the part affected, walk¬ 
ing will become difficult or impossible. No matter what por¬ 
tion of the body is involved, the part is painful to touch or 
use and may be excessively painful for a few hours even 
when kept quiet. 

What should be done until the doctor is seen? 

Rest and freedom from movement are indicated. It mat¬ 
ters not where the injury is, this rule applies. 

If the injury is slight, rest and quiet will be insured by 
the application of adhesive plaster strips. These should be 
applied from far below the seat of injury to well above it. 
Let the first strip be carefully and smoothly applied. Then 

146 



SPRAINS AND STRAINS 147 

the next one should overlap the first, and so on till the entire 
surface is covered. 

In the absence of adhesive plaster, a bandage may be 
made from an old sheet or other piece of cloth. This may 
be smoothly and firmly applied from below up, until firm 
support is given the injured part. 

Whether a bandage is used or adhesive plaster, the strips 
should be an inch and one-half or two inches wide—wide 
enough to lie smoothly on the skin and not roll up into a 
string or rope. 

If the injury is followed by pain, rest in bed with the 
damaged part elevated will promote comfort. Cold-water 
applications, or the local use of lead-water and laudanum 
will help. 

To relieve the soreness of a strained back, strap the part 
with three layers of adhesive plaster, about two and one-half 
inches wide. Cut the plaster in strips long enough to cover 
the back and extend well along the sides. About eighteen 
inches will be the right length. Let the strips overlap each 
other for about an inch at the sides, all along their length, 
so as to form a sort of snug jacket. Apply one layer over 
the other. Let the jacket remain on for two or three weeks. 

A plaster-of-Paris cast may be needed. Likewise, baking 
and massage will promote the cure. All the later steps should 
be taken only with the advice of the physician. Good sense 
and a little skill will ease the immediate pain. This is as far 
as the amateur should go. Each of us should have knowledge 
of first-aid measures, and every school should teach them. 
The sum total of human misery will be much reduced by this 
knowledge universally held. 


STUNNED, WHAT TO DO WHEN 

(blow on the head) 


WHAT TO DO 


1. Call the doctor at once. 

2. Lay the victim down with the head and shoulders 
raised on a pillow or a folded coat. 

3. If there is bleeding, this must be controlled. (See 
chapter on Bleeding, or Hemorrhage, Part I.) 

4. If not, apply cold compresses to the head. 

5. Apply hot-water bottles or hot bricks to the feet and 
keep the sufferer warmly covered. Be careful not to 
burn him. 

6. If the pulse can be felt, or breathing detected, con¬ 
sciousness will return shortly. 

7. If pulse and breathing cannot be detected, use arti¬ 
ficial respiration. (See chapter on Drowning, Part I.) 

8. Do not handle the sufferer roughly. 


BLOW or a fall on the head, if hard enough, will pro- 



** duce unconsciousness. It may be a very brief stun¬ 
ning, or the loss of the senses may continue for hours or 
even days. 

Such a blow produces a disturbance of the brain. This 
may be a passing trouble, but if there is hemorrhage of the 
brain, the difficulty is sure to be more serious. 

There are drugs and disturbances of the system which 
cause loss of consciousness. Of these we have spoken else¬ 
where. At this time I wish to discuss the stunned condition 
which you know comes from a blow on the head. Perhaps 
you saw the accident or some bystander described it to you. 

Place the victim in a position which would be a comfort¬ 
able one if he could testify. Raise the head and shoulders 
on a pillow, or a folded coat. 


148 



WHAT TO DO WHEN STUNNED 


149 


If there is bleeding, this must be controlled. (See chapter 
on Bleeding, or Hemorrhage, Part I.) If not, apply cold 
to the head. 

Keep the body warmly covered. A hot-water bottle or 
a hot brick to the feet will hasten recovery. Take pains not 
to burn the skin. 

If the pulse can be felt, no matter how weak it is, and if 
there is breathing, no matter how shallow, consciousness is 
likely to return. 

If pulse and breathing cannot be detected, it may be 
necessary to resort to artificial respiration as in drowning. 
(See chapter on Drowning, Part I.) This is rarely needed, 
but it should be kept in mind. 

Do not handle the patient roughly, because rough usage 
is apt to do harm. 

Call the doctor at once. 

(See also Drowning; Shock.) 


STYES 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Pull out the eyelash in the middle of the sty. 

2. Apply one per cent yellow oxide of mercury oint¬ 
ment nightly. 

3. Have the eyes tested for glasses. 


I ONCE heard a couple of chauffeurs discussing styes. 

One said they are due to bad blood and the other said 
they come from using the eyes too much. They were both 
right, but there is a lot more to say about the causes of 
styes. 

Any condition in which pus formation takes place is said 
to be due to infection. That is, it is due to the presence 
and growth of certain germs, which we call i ‘ pyogenic,’ ’ or 
pus-producing germs. 

No one of us can escape contact with germs, including 
the pyogenic varieties. Not a day passes, probably not an 
hour, but we touch, handle, or swallow thousands of them. 
Why, then, do not all of us become infected? 

The body, when it is in perfect health, is armed with 
powers of resistance to disease. We do not know all about 
these powers and just what they are, but if they are intact 
and kept so by right living, right eating, and observance of 
proper rules of hygiene, the body can fight off all the germs 
it is likely to meet. 

In this fight against disease, great aid is rendered by 
the protecting skin surface and mucous membranes. In a 
sense, the body is like an article sold in an air-tight wrapper. 
It is protected from contamination by the water-tight, air¬ 
tight, flexible and resistant skin and mucous coverings. 

Wrong living, or disease of some sort, may lower the 
resistance to a particular form of germ life. Injury may 

150 



STYES 151 

break the wrapper and permit the pus-producing germs to 
gain an entrance into the tissues somewhere. 

When the germs do get in, what the result will be de¬ 
pends upon the form, strength, and activity of the germs 
and upon the degree of weakness of the human tissues. 
This weakness is added to by chronic congestion or inflam¬ 
mation of the part. 

This gives us a general idea about pus infection. Now 
what about styes? 

Two elements are necessary for their production. The 
first of these is lowered resistance of the body, perhaps from 
some sustained indiscretion. Chronic indigestion, late hours, 
excessive use of tobacco—all these are factors. 

Then, eyestrain, due to the need of glasses, excessive use 
of the eyes, too much reading, and bad light, may cause con¬ 
stant congestion of the eyes and eyelids. Irritating vapors, 
smoke, or dust, rubbing the eyes, constant exposure to the 
weather, habitual weeping—any one of these may keep the 
eyelids inflamed and prepare the way for pus infection. 

So, you see, there are several factors, and when all or 
some of them are present, styes are likely to trouble you. 

There may be a single stye, if the trouble is due to acci¬ 
dental and passing things, but if the cause is founded on 
lowered bodily resistance and chronic irritation of the lids, 
then repeated crops of styes will come. 

Styes always occur on the edges of the lids and should 
not be confused with other growths on the lids. 

To get rid of styes the bad eating habits or other bad prac¬ 
tices must be corrected. The stomach, kidneys, intestinal 
tract, and other organs must be functioning properly. 

The vision should be tested, and if there is appreciable 
eyestrain, glasses must be worn to correct the defect. 
Glasses serve a double purpose, by overcoming the defect in 
sight and by protecting the sensitive eyes against dust and 
wind. 

A tendency to styes may be corrected in some instances 
by the nightly use of an ointment, made of a one per cent 
preparation of yellow oxide of mercury. 


152 


STYES 


The hands and face should be washed with soap and 
water, and then a tiny particle of the salve may be applied 
to the lids. It should be gently rubbed into the tissues. 

If there is an eyelash in the middle of the stye, it may 
be pulled out, thus giving drainage. 

Styes are a danger signal. They indicate habits and a 
manner of life which are harmful. 


SUNBURN 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Before going in the strong sunlight, dust the face 
and arms with a powder made of one part of quinine 
to fifteen parts of talcum, or apply a solution of one 
part of quinine in twenty parts of petroleum oil. 

2. Sometimes smearing the face with cold cream is 
effective. 

3. After exposure, clean the skin with cold cream be¬ 
fore bathing it with water. 


Y OU learned in physics that light consists of a lot of 
rays and that these rays differ in their effects. Some 
cause heat. Some illuminate. Others have magical, chem¬ 
ical effects. These last rays are called “actinic” rays. 
They are used by the photographer to make possible the im¬ 
pression of the picture upon the plate. 

When you go on a picnic, the actinic rays paint pictures 
on your face. They burn redness into the tip of your nose. 
They sear your neck and back. They have no respect for 
bald heads, and the golfer comes home with a red and shin¬ 
ing dome. 

Sunburn and tan are due to the action of these special 
rays. But it does you no good to know why you suffer this 
way. You want to know how to escape it. 

It is hard for some of us to learn that everything we 
undertake should begin temperately. When we play tennis 
we have to “go easy” at first. When haying time begins it 
is well to pitch hay modestly the first day. Otherwise, when 
the next morning dawns there will be sore muscles and 
aching joints. 

If you are light-complexioned, and especially if you are 
inclined to be “sandy,” you must be careful about exposing 

153 




154 


SUNBURN 


your face and arms to the sunlight. Go at it by easy stages. 
Pretty soon your skin will adapt itself to the sunlight, and 
then you will escape the dreadful burning you will have 
without such care. 

One may be ill as the result of sunburn. Fever and 
other constitutional symptoms may follow. Certainly your 
efficiency will be lowered for several days, if the sunburn is 
excessive. 

Wear a hat with a wide brim, if possible. Women get 
a lot of protection from the thinnest sort of a veil. It is 
surprising how much good this does. If you take pains like 
this for two or three days, you will probably escape severe 
sunburn. 

Quinine is a useful drug applied locally to protect the 
skin. It may be prepared as a powder—one part to fifteen 
parts of talcum powder. This may be dusted on the skin, 
or the quinine may be dissolved in petroleum oil and applied. 

If the skin had been burned, or to prevent its burning, 
cold cream may be applied. Water should not be used after 
exposure to the sun. After coming in from a drive, a few 
hours on the beach, or anywhere in the sunshine, do not 
apply water, but clean the skin with cream, gently rubbed 
off with a soft cloth. 

If, after a sea bath in the sunshine, you dry yourself and 
go in the water again, you do so at the risk of a painful 
case of sunburn. When this procedure is repeated several 
times during a morning or an afternoon on the beach, real 
suffering is likely to be the penalty exacted of a sensitive 
skin. 

Treat your skin as carefully as you do the veneer of a 
piano, and you will have a beautiful complexion. 

Harden yourself to the sunlight, because you need its 
healthful effect. It kills germs, enriches the blood, and 
makes you fit for life. 


SUNSTROKE 


(known also as heat stroke, fever heat, heat prostration, 

OR HEAT EXHAUSTION) 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

If the face and eyes are red and the temperature high 

1. Place the sufferer in a tub of cold water and apply 
ice to the head. 

2. As soon as the temperature is reduced, put him to 
bed. 

3. If the temperature rises, repeat the treatment. 

If the face is pale and skin cold 

1. Put the sufferer in a hot bath and apply cold to the 
head. 

2. Give a teaspoonful of Jamaica ginger in a little water. 

For any heat prostration 

1. Keep the sufferer in bed and quiet for’ a day or two. 


E VERYBODY is familiar with sunstroke. When a hot 
Monday follows a hot Sunday there is sure to be trouble 
in the large cities. The population moves out to the parks, 
the water-side, or other amusement places. Excessive eating 
and, where it is indulged in, excessive drinking are produc¬ 
tive of physical debility and lessened resistance. 

A Sunday spent in this way, followed by more or less 
disturbance of sleep that night, prepares the way for evil 
effects from prolonged exposure to sunlight on Monday. 
Sunstroke is the penalty paid for such excesses. 

No matter how well you may he, it is not safe to expose 
yourself for hours to the sun’s rays. I shall never forget 
the occasion of President Harding’s funeral. It was one 

155 




156 


SUNSTROKE 


of the hottest days I ever experienced. Tens of thousands 
of his mourning fellow-countrymen stood in the sun for 
hours waiting for the procession to pass. As I rode along 
Pennsylvania Avenue and through the Capitol grounds, I 
saw dozens of persons in collapse from the heat. 

There are two forms of sunstroke. They are quite dif¬ 
ferent in their effects and radically different in treatment. 

Heat stroke—the condition we are accustomed to call sun¬ 
stroke—produces redness of the face and skin, and high tem¬ 
perature. 

Heat prostration, or heat exhaustion, produces paleness 
of the face, coldness of the skin, and temperature below 
normal. 

In heat strokes there may be no warning symptoms. The 
victim may fall to the ground utterly unconscious. So ter¬ 
rific are the reactions upon his vitality that he may die 
within a few hours. 

In milder cases there may be dizziness at first. This is 
followed by terrific headache, nausea, and vomiting. The 
pulse is full and bounding, and the temperature may shoot 
up to 105 or 106 degrees, or even higher. 

In other cases the pulse may be very full, but equally 
slow. Then the breathing is difficult, and may even be like 
snoring. There is unconsciousness, and death may occur in 
a day or so. 

You should make note of the distinct difference in these 
two forms of illness due to heat exposure. You must apply 
the treatment, and it must be the correct treatment or you 
may do harm. 

For heat strokes with red face, red eyes, and high fever, 
your aim is to reduce temperature at once. To this end, 
applications of ice or cold water are demanded. 

You may place the victim in a tub of cold water, apply 
ice to his head, and attempt in this way to reduce the fever. 

In one of the hospitals where I attended we used to see 
lots of these patients who were brought in by the ambulance. 
One or two summers we treated many cases by placing the 
patient on a blanket and turning the hose on him. 


SUNSTROKE 


157 


As soon as the temperature comes down, the patient is 
put to bed. If there is a recurrence of high fever, the treat¬ 
ment is repeated. 

Quite different is the treatment for heat prostration, or 
exhaustion, with pale face and cold skin. Here we wish to 
raise the temperature and stimulate the heart. 

A hot bath, with cold applications to the head, is indi¬ 
cated. Sometimes it is enough to put the feet in hot mus¬ 
tard water and give a dose of Jamaica ginger. 

There should he rest in bed and perfect quiet for a day 
or two after such an experience. 


SWALLOWING A FOREIGN BODY 
(such as a penny, a button, a pebble) 


/ 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Give unusual amounts of bread, cereals, and vege¬ 
tables to assist the passage of the substance from 
the body. 

2. Do not give emetics or cathartics. 

3. Do not get excited. Such accidents are seldom fol¬ 
lowed by ill results. 


A BABY'S mouth is like a magnet—it attracts to itself 
everything within reach. The first thing the youngster 
does when he gets his hands on the scissors, the thimble, 
the spool of thread, or his father's watch, is to put it in his 
mouth. 

The worst of it is, too, that he will swallow everything 
capable of passing his throat. Where is the child who 
hasn't swallowed buttons, pennies, marbles, and innumerable 
pebbles? These are of little consequence, but when pieces 
of glass, pins, and shingle nails are devoured, it becomes a 
more serious thing. 

There may be some symptoms of choking, and rarely 
there may be some bleeding because the throat has been cut. 
Usually, however, you do not know the baby has swallowed 
a foreign substance until you miss the article itself. 

Every young mother suffers agonies of fear when she 
discovers, to her horror, that baby has swallowed a pin or 
a pebble. Fortunately, though, she has little to worry over, 
because it is rare, extremely rare, for any ill effect to come 
from this escapade. The stomach is big enough to accom¬ 
modate quite a hardware collection. On this account, the 
stomach offers no complaint. When the article reaches the 

158 



SWALLOWING A FOREIGN BODY 


159 


small intestine, there may be a little colic. Usually there is 
no sign of its progress until it passes out of the body. At 
the place of exit there may be slight tearing of the tissues, 
if the foreign body is pointed or sharp-edged. 

It is several days, sometimes a week or even two weeks, 
before the article passes from the body. It is surprising 
what delays take place. But even though the thing is very 
large, it will make its way without disturbance to the baby. 

The best thing to do when your baby has swallowed 
something not intended as food is to give the child unusual 
amounts of bread, cereals, and vegetables. The roughage 
afforded by these will assist the passage of the foreign body. 

Do not give cathartics or emetics. More harm will result 
from violent methods than from expectant ones. 

Some nervous children tear oft the hair of furs and rugs 
and swallow it. Wool and threads of cloth and other similar 
things appeal to their perverted appetites. Even hair from 
the head of the child himself may be pulled out and swal¬ 
lowed. 

Such material knots together and may, in rare instances, 
form a hair-ball in the stomach. Instances have been re¬ 
corded of great masses collecting in this way. However, it 
is not worth thinking about, because it is a thing which hap¬ 
pens to one child in a million, I suppose. 

Try to be a philosopher, dear Mother, and don’t worry 
unduly over your baby, no matter what it has swallowed. 
Kind Nature has made the body in such a way that every 
imaginable accident has been provided for, so you may be 
very confident that the outcome will be all right. 

If the substance is not found in the stools within forty- 
eight hours, see the doctor. 

(See also Choking; Lungs, Foreign Bodies in the.) 


TOOTHACHE 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Rub capsicum vaseline on the cheek or jaw, or apply 
a small mustard plaster. 

2. If heat is soothing, let the sufferer apply a hot-water 
bottle, a hot-salt or hot-bran bag, or hot compresses 
changed every few minutes, to the cheek until the 
pain subsides. 

3. If cold is welcome, let him keep cold water in the 
mouth to relieve the pain. 

4. When overacidity of the secretion of the mouth is 
responsible for the trouble, bicarbonate of soda, either 
dry or in strong solution, held in the mouth, usually 
promotes comfort. 


T^VlD you ever sit up half the night with a mouthful of 
cold water? As fast as the water became warm, did 
you replace it with cold? 

When you were a little boy, did you go out and lie down 
on the sidewalk in the sun, placing your cheek against the 
hot cement, in order to stop the throbbing ache in your back 
tooth? 

Poor children! Earache and stomach-ache and tooth¬ 
ache! I had them all. Really, we never enjoy good health 
until we have had sickness, and especially, a variety of 
illnesses. 

Toothache is the most unnecessary of our many aches. 
It is generally due to neglect. When an adult has toothache 
it serves him right. But the children have not sinned; they 
have been sinned against. They suffer the penalty of their 
parents’ neglect. 

Nobody likes to go to a dentist. He has sharp-pointed 
instruments and a drill that makes a frightful buzzing. The 

160 



TOOTHACHE 


161 


funny thing about it, though, is that a dentist rarely hurts 
you. But you are always afraid he will hurt. When he 
uses the drill, it doesn't pain, but you are afraid the miser¬ 
able thing will slip and buzz its way right through the nerve 
of the tooth. It never does do that, but you never get over 
fearing that it will. 

The right remedy for toothache is the dentist. Of course, 
the child will not be apt to have the toothache if he is taught 
to use the tooth-brush daily and to care for his teeth prop¬ 
erly. When the ache appears, however, he must have the im¬ 
mediate care of the dentist. Early attention will stop the 
pain and save the tooth. Many times, too, the treatment is 
very simply, briefly, and effectively applied. 

What can be done to give temporary relief in toothache? 

I have spoken already of cold water. The pain of tooth¬ 
ache is sometimes due to the expansion of the gases of fer¬ 
mentation within the tooth or its socket. In such a case, the 
cold water reduces the temperature sufficiently to prevent 
gas expansion with its remitting pressure upon the sensitive 
portions of the tooth. 

In other cases heat will relieve the pain. A hot-water 
bottle may be applied to the cheek, or cloths wrung out of 
hot water may give comfort. Hot-salt bags or hot-bran 
bags are used at times. 

Counterirritation may help. Capsicum vaseline, rubbed 
on the cheek or jaw, produces such reaction as to stop the 
pain. A similar preparation containing menthol may be 
more helpful. A small mustard plaster will do. 

At times the pain is due to overacidity of the secretion 
of the mouth. The acid fluid inflames the sore gums or irri¬ 
tates the sensitive tissues of the decayed tooth. In such a 
case bicarbonate of soda, either dry or in strong solution, 
held in the mouth, will give comfort. 

Iodine properly applied is most valuable. Let me say 
now, however, that iodine is poison and may be harmful if 
wrongfully used. If employed at all, it must be applied with 
a match or toothpick rolled in a thin layer of cotton. A 
drop or two of iodine may wet the end of this applicator 


162 


TOOTHACHE 


and be gently rubbed on the gum about the aching tooth. 
As stated, it must be sparingly used, as it will harm the 
tissues. 

These suggestions will take you through the night. The 
next morning consult a dentist. 


VERTIGO, OR DIZZINESS 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Have the victim lie down in a well-ventilated place. 

2. Do not get excited. Keep him quiet and comfortable, 
and the attack will soon pass. 


T F you ever experienced an earthquake, you may recall the 
* terrible sensation of having the earth, normally so de¬ 
pendable and stable, suddenly become trembly and unstable. 
The very foundations of life seem to have been torn from 
beneath your feet. 

The first time a spell of dizziness, or vertigo, attacks you, 
you will have a similar sensation. Indeed, the two experi¬ 
ences are remarkably alike. 

There are a lot of different things which may be followed 
by vertigo. Hot weather, especially a protracted spell of 
hot weather, may bring on an attack of dizziness. 

Abuse of the stomach by irregular eating, or the taking 
of cold food or drink, may produce it. Some persons have 
the bad habit of gulping down quantities of ice-water when 
they come in from the hot out-of-doors. This is a bad prac¬ 
tice, and among the symptoms it may produce is vertigo. 

Digestion is impaired by the intemperate drinking of 
ice-water. Almost all the stomach and intestinal disturb¬ 
ances which produce dyspepsia may cause dizziness. 

It is remarkable how the circulation of the brain is in¬ 
fluenced by toxins or poisons generated by indigestion, con¬ 
stipation, and fermentation. Blind spots, dazzling of the 
eyes, flashes of light, floating spots, and dizziness are com¬ 
mon symptoms due to digestive disturbance. 

Of course, vertigo produced by such a cause is not par¬ 
ticularly serious, but it may indicate some disturbance in 

163 




164 


VERTIGO, OR DIZZINESS 

the brain or nervous system. There are several diseases 
of these structures which have dizziness in their chain of 
symptoms. 

We hear much these days—too much I fancy—about high 
blood pressure and its dire effects. There are uncomfort¬ 
able feelings due to high blood pressure, and vertigo is one 
of them. 

It may seem strange to trace dizziness to the eyes or 
ears, but it can be done in some cases. In the inner ear, 
deep in the skull, are certain little semicircular canals which 
constitute the spirit level of the human body. By their po¬ 
sition and the movement of the fluid within them, we deter¬ 
mine our position, and they help us to maintain our balance, 
or equilibrium. If they become damaged or diseased, serious 
vertigo follows at once. 

If the muscles which move the eyes become unbalanced, 
there is produced a disturbance of the sight. This has the 
same effect upon us that an earthquake would have. While 
there is not actually a trembling of the earth, it looks as if 
there were, so we have the sensation of dizziness as long as 
our eyes are open. 

The treatment of vertigo depends on the cause. It dis¬ 
appears speedily when the exciting factor is removed. 


VOMITING, VIOLENT AND REPEATED 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Put the sufferer to bed with a hot-water bottle to the 
feet and cold compresses to the abdomen. 

2. Restrict the diet to small quantities of clear broth, 
ice-cold milk, ice-cold white of egg, or soft-boiled egg. 

3. If these are not retained, try toast water, made by 
pouring boiling water over toast and straining off 
the fluid, a few sips of ice-cold champagne, strong, 
clear tea, or lemon-juice, strained and served cold. 

4. If these fail, omit food entirely. 

5. If the vomiting continues after several hours of rest 
without food, send for the doctor. 


I SHALL never forget one boyhood birthday. I spent it 
in bed with an illness having violent vomiting as its 
chief symptom. I had gone out on an exploring expedition 
and, running short of food, had roasted some field corn. A 
boy’s stomach will digest almost any sort of hardware, but 
I can testify it won’t take care of enormous quantities of 
roasted field corn. 

There is nothing more agonizing than terrible nausea 
and the retching of violent vomiting. It makes little dif¬ 
ference what the fundamental cause may be, the symptoms 
are practically the same. 

The vomited material may be black, or brown, or clear 
like water. It may be blood, pure or mixed with food. It 
may be clotted blood or fluid colored with bile. 

In yellow fever vomiting is so prominent that the disease 
is sometimes called 4 'black vomit.” Alcoholism and poison¬ 
ing from sewer-gas are capable of producing violent vomit¬ 
ing. In kidney disease there may be such poisoning of the 

165 




166 VIOLENT AND REPEATED VOMITING 


system as to cause disturbing symptoms, including violent 
vomiting. 

In certain diseases of the brain forcible or projectile 
vomiting is one of the symptoms. Abscess or bleeding in 
the brain, or tumor, as well as disturbance in the circula¬ 
tion of the brain, may produce the most distressing vomit¬ 
ing, extremely difficult to control. 

There is a form of vomiting called “ juvenile vomiting / 9 
found among overworked school children. It is met in run¬ 
down young people and is undoubtedly nervous in origin. 
This rather rare symptom is obstinate and hard to overcome. 

In seasickness we have another ailment in which in¬ 
evitable vomiting is the terrible symptom. Disturbance of 
certain parts of the internal ear may cause similar trouble. 

I have observed serious vomiting produced by eye strain, 
either from the need of glasses or because of lack of balance 
in the muscles of the eyeball. Absence of team-work in the 
eyes has caused nausea and violent vomiting. 

The vomiting of pregnancy is a familiar example of reflex 
disturbance. Disease of the womb or ovaries may cause it. 
The passing of gallstones is another factor. 

When violent vomiting is present the diet must be re¬ 
stricted to very small quantities of clear broth, ice-cold 
milk, ice-cold white of egg, or soft-boiled egg. Sometimes 
food must be omitted entirely. 

Toast water, made by pouring boiling water on toast 
and straining oft the fluid, may be retained. 

A few sips of strong tea is helpful at times. 

Clear lemon-juice, strained and served cold, may be held. 

If food is not retained, rectal feeding may be resorted 
to in protracted cases. 

Holding ice in the mouth is a simple procedure which 
may arrest the vomiting. 

Rest in bed, a hot-water bottle to the feet and cold com¬ 
presses to the abdomen, may control. 

Electricity is helpful in other cases. 


PART II 

COMMON AILMENTS 





ADENOIDS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Have the adenoids removed surgically. 

2. Prevent their return by attention to slight colds, 
cleanliness of nose (see chapter on Catarrh, Nasal, 
Part II) and mouth, fresh air day and night, good 
food, and other necessities of good health. 


I T seems to be the terrible penalty of childhood to have to 
submit to certain ailments. When mothers meet and talk 
about their children the conversation is along this line: 
‘ 4 Has Jennie had the measles yet?” 44 When does Johnny 
have his tonsils out?” “My three kiddies have just had 
their adenoids removed.” Some day science will progress 
to the point of finding out how to spare little children all 
the misery and illness they now endure. 

A very common affliction of early life is the condition we 
call adenoids. Between the nose and throat, in what is 
known as the vault of the pharynx, are certain little struc¬ 
tures called lymph glands. They are perfectly normal things 
and, so long as they preserve their proper size and function, 
are of no concern. 

Unfortunately, these glands have a way of increasing in 
size until the throat is literally packed with offending mate¬ 
rial. 

Opening into the same space where these glands are 
found are the tubes which drain and ventilate the middle 
ear. One of the dangers of adenoid development is its inter¬ 
ference with the ear. Many cases of earache, inflammation 
of the middle ear, and even mastoid disease, may be traced 
to this trouble. Middle ear catarrh and deafness may have 
similar origin. 


169 




170 


ADENOIDS 


It is not unusual to find the eyes weak and inflamed when 
the child has adenoids. 

Mouth breathing, snoring, snuffles, coughing, sneezing, 
hawking, spitting, and thickened speech are characteristic. 
A peculiar discharge, like boiled starch, can be seen clinging 
to the back of the throat. 

Whatever difference of opinion there may be about taking 
out tonsils, there can be no possible doubt that adenoids 
should be removed. They interfere with free breathing, 
leaving the child undernourished and underdeveloped be¬ 
cause of lack of oxygen. They cause mouth breathing with 
all the evils of taking into the lungs unfiltered and unwarmed 
air. They lead to disastrous ear troubles. They leave the 
little patient liable to secondary infection with tuberculosis. 

Children who are carefully watched from infancy may 
escape adenoids. Attention to slight colds, cleanliness of the 
nose and mouth, fresh air day and night, good food, and all 
the other elementary things which make for good health will 
guard against adenoid development. 

But when once the adenoids have made themselves known 
by the disagreeable symptoms named, attention should be 
given them by a doctor. 

(See also Bronchitis, Acute Catarrhal; Catarrh, Nasal; 
Chills and Colds; Cold, Why We Should Not Neglect a Com¬ 
mon; Croup; Earache; Mastoid Disease; Tonsils, Enlarged.) 


ANEMIA AND CHLOROSIS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Have the victim eat meals at regular intervals. 

2. Make sure that the kidneys and bowels eliminate 
properly. (See chapter on Constipation, Part II.) 

3. Add to the diet cream, milk, fresh eggs, green vege¬ 
tables, fresh and stewed fruits, and give two or three 
glasses of water between meals. 

4. See that the sufferer 1 avoids excessive use of tea, 
coffee, and other stimulants. 

5. Have him exercise regularly in the open air. 

6. Insist upon as many hours of sleep as possible in a 
well-ventilated room. 

7. See that he avoids worry, fatigue, and irregular 
habits. 


T HAVE no objection, professional or personal, to the nse 
of rouge. I don’t blame a pale woman for applying it. 

But I am bitterly opposed to all the things that make for 
paleness in women and men, and girls and boys. The things 
that produce chronic paleness are all wrong. 

Some of these things are medical, but too many of them 
are social. Crowded factories, dirty, unventilated, and un¬ 
lighted; inside offices to which God’s sunlight never pene¬ 
trates; night work for the very young; long hours of work 
and long distances to reach it; excessive time on the feet for 
delicate girls; long stretches of stairs to climb and dusty 
places of employment—all these are factors in making pale 
faces and bloodless lips. Insufficient food due to its exces¬ 
sive cost, improper food due to ignorance of what should not 
be eaten, fraudulent substitutes for proper food, are other 
factors. 

Anemia may be due to a lack of blood, or it may be caused 
171 




172 ANEMIA AND CHLOROSIS 

by the absence of certain important elements in the blood. 

Chlorosis is that form of anemia met with in young girls. 
It appears at from twelve to seventeen years of age. We 
know little about its cause, but we recognize it on sight. 

At the critical period between twelve and seventeen, the 
complexion loses its normal appearance and takes on a hue 
not unlike the yellow, greenish tinge the victim of seasick¬ 
ness has—hence the name chlorosis. On account of the color 
of the skin, the disease is sometimes referred to as the 
“green sickness.’’ 

Something interferes with blood manufacturing. The 
machinery breaks down, and, as a result, the normal blood 
supply is deficient in certain qualities. 

Blondes are more susceptible than brunettes. Bad hy¬ 
giene is an important factor. Factory girls who climb long 
flights of stairs and work in poorly lighted and ventilated 
rooms are particularly susceptible. 

I am so thankful that the old-time sweat-shop conditions 
are speedily disappearing. The humane laws and the in¬ 
creasing humanity of employers are doing away with the vile 
surroundings which sapped the vitality of the last genera¬ 
tion. Society should keep a vigilant eye on such matters. 
We must never again be obliged to wage war on this evil. 

In chlorosis the appetite is lost, or else it is perverted. 
Earth, chalk, pencils, and other improper things are eaten 
by the victim. I recall a patient who had this symptom. On 
one occasion I asked her what she would order to eat if she 
could have anything in the world she wanted. Quick as a 
flash she answered, “A dozen cedar lead pencils.” 

Constipation is common. The heart is flabby and uncer¬ 
tain. Palpitation is one of the usual symptoms. Menstrual 
disturbances and ill health generally are accompaniments of 
the pathetic disease. 

The treatment is a simple thing. Iron is lacking in the 
blood. By giving iron to make up for what the blood has 
not had in a normal way, the disease is overcome. Of course 
the family doctor will attend to the medication. 

While chlorosis is not confined to the hard-working city 


ANEMIA AND CHLOROSIS 173 

girl, there can be no doubt that the conditions surrounding 
the country girl are not so likely to produce it. 

There is just one thing about the country, however, that 
should be emphasized now. Boards of Health have not been 
so active in most rural communities for the past twenty-five 
years as they have been in cities. Consequently, it is prob¬ 
ably true that open windows are less the rule in rural dis¬ 
tricts than in the city. Of course, until very recently, fur¬ 
naces were unheard of in the country districts, and, to pre¬ 
serve the heat of the stove, there was a temptation to keep 
the windows closed. 

The frequency with which we meet anemia in the cities 
is a shame. Sit in a street-car any day and observe the peo¬ 
ple who enter, especially the women. When they first arrive, 
and for a period of five or ten minutes, the cheeks are red. 
Unfortunately, however, as soon as the effect of the exertion 
of catching the car has worn off, the color fades away and 
the face is as white as wax, unless rouge has been applied. 

There are tens of thousands of such persons in New York 
City, and they are to be found in every commercial or indus¬ 
trial community. It speaks well for industry, however, that 
large employers of labor are now organizing and maintain¬ 
ing well-equipped welfare departments. Labor organizations 
have raised health and sanitation committees. Health au¬ 
thorities and state industrial commissions are aiding all 
these efforts. Intelligent welfare legislation is being em¬ 
ployed. All in all, the prospects seem bright for the removal 
of many factors that have militated against health. Anemia 
and chlorosis will be less common in the future. 

Among symptoms of the anemic condition are palpitation 
of the heart, occasional faintness, or actual fainting. These 
symptoms excite the fear, at times, that the heart may be 
diseased. 

Puffy eyelids and swollen ankles give a suspicion of kid¬ 
ney trouble. 

The stomach gives a lot of trouble. One day the patient 
can eat anything; the next day he eats practically nothing. 

Malnutrition and undernourishment among children are 


174 


ANEMIA AND CHLOROSIS 


far too common. It is not alone among the poor that we find 
undernourishment. Whenever children lack food, of when, 
through ignorance or indifference, children are permitted to 
fill the stomach with the wrong food, we find malnutrition. 

Candy, soda water, sweet cakes, and similar things are 
not in themselves harmful. But if the child comes from 
school hungry and is given this sort of stuff, when he needs 
bread and butter, there is no wonder he does not thrive. 

Every child and every anemic person should have a quart 
of good milk every day. Chocolate creams are not a sub¬ 
stitute. 

Consult the dentist to make sure the teeth are sound. 

Watchful care on the part of the parent will be needed 
to guide the child or the young person in the teens. No more 
useful service can be rendered the poorly nourished or anemic 
young person than the strictest oversight of his stomach and 
general surroundings. 

The following are a few helpful suggestions for overcom¬ 
ing anemia and building up the general health: 

Eat your meals at regular intervals. Add to your diet 
milk, cream, fresh eggs, plenty of green vegetables, fresh 
and stewed fruit. Drink two or three glasses of water be¬ 
tween meals. Make sure that your kidneys and bowels 
eliminate properly. Avoid excessive use of tea, coffee, and 
alcoholic stimulants. Exercise freely in the fresh air and 
practice deep breathing. Sleep as many hours as possible in 
a well-ventilated room. Avoid overfatigue, worry, and 
irregular habits. 

(See also Adolescence; Constipation.) 


ARTHRITIS, OR INFLAMED JOINTS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Build up the general health. 

2. Fix the joint with splint and bandage. 

3. Consult the doctor to find the cause, and have it 
removed. 


INFLAMMATION of a joint is called arthritis. 

-■* Injuries may cause arthritis, but almost always this 
disease follows some other condition. Usually the producing 
disease is characterized by the formation of pus. 

Among the pus-forming conditions which may be followed 
by inflammation of the joints are abscesses at the roots of 
the teeth and pyorrhea. 

Pyorrhea is a disease of the gums around the teeth. In 
advanced cases pus forms, and gradually this is absorbed by 
the system. After a while, as a result, a joint here and there 
may become inflamed. 

Diseased tonsils, where they become pus-infected, may 
result in arthritis. So also the nasal sinuses may be centers 
of pus infection and the cause of disease of the joints. 

If elimination of the body wastes or poisons is inter¬ 
fered with, the joints may be affected. Failure of the func¬ 
tion of the kidneys or intestines may thus become a cause 
for arthritis. 

Some of the general diseases, like tuberculosis, typhoid 
fever, scarlet fever, the social diseases, and rheumatism may 
direct part of their attack against the joints. 

You see it is not necessary to have a wound or direct 
injury in order to damage and infect the joints. The germs 
of disease may be carried through the blood-vessels or the 
lymph channels. 


175 




176 ARTHRITIS, OR INFLAMED JOINTS 

It is not so common in America, but in some countries 
gout is a great factor in the production of this disease. 

The symptoms of arthritis vary greatly. In some cases 
the joints, for instance the fingers, swell enormously. They 
become hot, red, and exceedingly tender to the touch. All 
the familiar signs of inflammation are present. The joints 
may be moved, but it is painful to move them. While the 
deformity is conspicuous, the function of the joint is not lost. 

In other cases the deformity is hardly to be noticed, but 
the joint is stiff at first and finally entirely incapable of 
motion. 

In arthritis from acute rheumatism there is high fever. 
In these cases a number of joints may be involved at the 
same time. 

In tubercular arthritis a single joint marks the beginning 
of a much slower process. In this form there is usually a 
history of an injury beforehand. 

The first indication for treatment in the acute and pain¬ 
ful cases of arthritis is rest and quiet. The joint is fixed by 
splints and bandages and thus protected against movement. 

In the chronic and painless form fixation in one position 
is undesirable. It leads to permanent stiffness and useless¬ 
ness of the joint. Baking, when the joint is placed in a 
chamber and exposed to very hot air, is considered a valuable 
procedure. Massage and careful movement of the joint are 
helpful. If the baking outfits are not available, hot com¬ 
presses may be applied at frequent intervals. 

If pus forms in the joint, it must be drawn off by opera¬ 
tion. 

Sometimes vaccines are employed in the treatment of 
arthritis. 

Needless to say, the possible effects of this disease are 
so serious that skilled medical care should be called upon as 
early as possible. 

The causes have suggested what should be done to over¬ 
come a very obstinate and discouraging condition. The seat 
of pus formation should be found and the trouble corrected. 


177 


ARTHRITIS, OR INFLAMED JOINTS 

Sometimes a change to a dry and warm climate will help. 
Hot baths and the various mineral springs have their virtues. 

Build up the general health; get away from care and 
worry, if possible, and have your doctor prescribe the indi¬ 
cated remedy. 

(See also Rheumatism.) 


BALDNESS IN MEN 


HOW TO PREVENT 

1. Keep the body well nourished and the circulation 
of the blood good. 

2. Avoid tight, hard, heavy hats that interfere with 
circulation. 


S MILE as we will, there is one affliction a man just hates 
to endure. He can’t bear to be bald. He does his best 
to make a joke of it, but he feels like jerking the last hair 
out of his more fortunate friend’s head. 

Baldness and the quality of the hair appear to be symp¬ 
toms peculiar to the family. That is why it is so common 
a thing to hear that baldness is hereditary. 

Just because there is an unfavorable family history, I am 
not content to fall back on heredity and to give up before 
the battle begins. With rare exceptions, disease is not in¬ 
herited. The tendency may be transmitted, but actual dis¬ 
ease is acquired. 

A good many diseases depend on anatomical peculiarities 
or defects. These physical conditions undoubtedly run in 
some families. For instance, in my family all the men have 
big noses. In another family, tiny ears may be the rule. 
Big feet or little feet, long fingers or short ones, narrow 
chests or full—these may be family traits. 

Likewise the kind of a heart you have, or the size of the 
blood-vessels, may be the result of heredity. In my opinion, 
the strength and permanence of the hair depend on the heart 
and blood-vessels. 

If you have a stingy heart action, with failure of the 
blood to be sent in forceful stream to the most remote parts 
of your body, you will be bald unless you are careful. 

178 



BALDNESS IN MEN 


179 


The scalp is supplied with blood, all of which comes from 
below upwards. Spreading out like a fan, the tiny blood¬ 
vessels go to every part of the skin of the head. Every hair 
has its vessel. Growth and strength of each individual hair 
depend on an unfailing supply of blood. 

If you had an irrigated garden and the water-pipes or 
ditches were too short to reach to the edge of every bed and 
to every part of your garden, there would be speedy death 
of the plants outside the irrigated region. It is just so with 
the hair. There must be uninterrupted flow of blood to the 
very crown of the head, or else the hair will fall. 

Anything interfering with the free blood supply of the 
scalp has the same effect as lack of force in the heart action. 
Tight, hard, heavy hats are sure to stop the flow of blood. 
The more such hats are worn the sooner will baldness appear. 

To have strong hair the body must be well nourished. 
Certain foods contain the elements needed by the hair. 

The growth, quantity, and appearance of the hair are 
pretty good signs of the vigor of the body and the strength 
of the heart’s action. Poorly nourished children have hair 
without luster. It is amazing what a full diet of good milk 
will do for the hair of these little chaps. 

One can live out his normal expectancy of life without a 
forcefully pumping heart, but it is hard to have a full crop 
of hair without it. 


BILIOUSNESS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Correct constipation, if present. (See chapter on 
Constipation, Part II.) 

2. Give simple food and lots of water between meals. 

3. Have the sufferer take plenty of out-door exercise 
and sleep. 

4. Encourage the cultivation of regular and sane habits 
of life. 

5. Insist upon relaxation. 


T HE late Mayor Gaynor, of New York City, once said: 

“Some people think they are pions when they are 
only bilious.” 

“Biliousness” was a word in common use a generation 
ago, and it continues to hold a place in the common speech, 
if not in the professional vocabulary. It describes a com¬ 
bination of symptoms, including headache, dizziness, indiges¬ 
tion, coated tongue, bad taste in the mouth, tired feeling, 
and general misery. The popular idea is that it is due to 
a sluggish liver. 

The liver never fails to function as best it can. Some¬ 
times, however, too much is asked of it. When you treat 
your body as if it were a play-house, the liver suffers with 
all the other organs. 

If you habitually eat too much, especially candy or pas¬ 
try, or an excess of fat, you may be putting too much strain 
on the liver. Likewise, long-standing constipation will dis¬ 
turb the normal condition of the liver. 

In constipation there is an accumulation of waste mate¬ 
rial in the lowest portion of the colon. The veins supplying 
this part of the intestine communicate with the liver. Poi- 

180 



BILIOUSNESS 181 

sons formed in the colon, or absorbed by this portion of the 
intestinal wall, will eventually reach the liver. 

This is exactly the way Nature intended to dispose of 
the body poisons, but if an excessive amount of material of 
this sort is passed on to the liver, there may be too much 
for it to handle. Then the whole system suffers and we 
have the symptoms popularly called biliousness. 

Not only are there physical signs of trouble, but the mind 
rebels. There are down-heartedness, sadness, and gloom of 
spirits. There may be muddiness of the complexion, pim¬ 
ples, redness of the nose, and general roughness and un¬ 
healthy appearance of the skin. 

The conditions which result in chronic biliousness may 
cause hardening of the arteries, sleeplessness, black rings 
around the eyes, and disinclination to work. Headache, loss 
of appetite, furred tongue, and other symptoms have been 
mentioned. 

All these indications of ill health are not to be misin¬ 
terpreted. They do not call for cathartics, or “ liver pills, ’ ’ 
or powerful drugs. 

They call for simple food, better manner of living, daily 
exercise, lots of sleep, plenty of drinking-water and fruit, 
and common sense in eating and drinking. If our lives were 
more simple, we should suffer less from dietary ills, and the 
ailment commonly called biliousness would not come to 
plague us. 

(See also Constipation; Heartburn; Indigestion, or Dys¬ 
pepsia; Nervous Breakdown.) 


BLACKHEADS, OB ACNE 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Correct the diet by cutting down on sugar, starches, 
and coffee, and giving simple food. 

2. Give a tablespoonful of mineral oil every night, three 
hours or more after eating. Bran muffins and plenty 
of water are further aids to relief from constipation. 

3. Frequent general baths and rubbing down with a 
coarse towel are necessary. 

4. Daily exercise must be taken to the extent of caus¬ 
ing gentle perspiration. 

5. See that the victim gets lots of fresh air day and 
night. 

6. Be sure the teeth, tonsils, and nose are all right. 

7. Bathe the affected parts with water, as hot as can be 
borne. Then squeeze out the blackheads with a 
sterilized watch-key, or other blunt instrument, being 
careful to avoid bleeding. Do not use great force 
and do not remove too many at one time. Open any 
pus-filled pimples, using a sterilized needle for the 
purpose. 

8. Apply some healing lotion. The following may be 
used twice a day: Milk of sulphur, water, and alcohol 
in equal parts, to which may be added one-tenth part 
of gum mucilage. 

9. If there is much irritation, benzoated oxide of zinc 
ointment may be applied. 


T^VERY youngster seems doomed to go through an em- 
^ barrassing and humiliating pimply period. I always 
feel sorry for the afflicted boys and girls, but it is one of 
the signs of approaching maturity. In spite of all we do, 
few escape the experience. 

We call this disease acne, hut, since the face looks as if 

182 




BLACKHEADS, OR ACNE * 183 

it were sprinkled with pepper, the more popular name is 
blackheads. 

Red, swollen spots, sometimes capped with pus, and ac¬ 
companied by blackheads—these are the characteristic signs 
of acne. The hard lumps may not come to a head, but may 
look red and angry for days and weeks. 

The face, particularly the chin and forehead, the upper 
part of the chest, and the shoulders, are the parts usually 
affected. The disease commonly begins at the age of ten 
or twelve and continues more or less intermittently for sev¬ 
eral years. It is rare, indeed, to see it after the age of 
twenty-five. 

Some skins are more liable to attack than others. Per¬ 
haps you have not noticed it, but there are many kinds of 
skins. Some are fine-grained and small pored. Others are 
coarse-grained, with large, open pores, and are very oily. 
The latter are liable to attack. 

It is an interesting fact that the persons who have acne 
are likely to have lots of dandruff. There is a remarkable 
relationship between these two disagreeable conditions. 

It is difficult to trace the cause of acne. Diseased tonsils, 
a running ear, intestinal disturbances—all these are open to 
suspicion as being factors. There can be no doubt that 
bodily poisoning from any cause must not be disregarded. 

I suppose it may be said truthfully that most children 
are too much indulged. They eat sweets, starches, and fats 
to excess. We love our children so much we can deny them 
nothing. Ought we not to love them so much as to keep from 
them the things which may be harmful? 

We cannot hope to cure acne until we cause our young 
patients to live the right sort of lives. This means lots of 
exercise in the out-of-doors. Activity of the body guaran¬ 
tees activity to the skin and a healthier skin. 

For the sake of the skin, as well as for the good of all 
the rest of the body, they should be given simple food, green 
vegetables, fruit, milk, and coarse bread. Lots of water to 
drink, and, above all else, deep breathing are essential to 
health and a clean skin. 


184 BLACKHEADS, OR ACNE 

Almost always constipation or, at least, sluggish bowel 
movement, is present. Avoid use of salts or cathartics. 
Take a tablespoonful of mineral oil every night, three hours 
or more after eating. Eat bran muffins and drink plenty of 
water as further aids to relief from constipation. 

Frequent general baths and rubbing down with a coarse 
towel are essential. Exercise daily to the extent of causing 
gentle perspiration. Get lots of fresh air day and night. 
Be sure the teeth, tonsils, and nasal sinuses are all right. 

Bathe the affected parts with water as hot as can be 
borne. Then squeeze out the blackheads with a sterilized 
hairpin or watch-key. Do not use great force and do not 
remove too many at one time. Open any pus-filled pimples, 
using a sterilized needle for the purpose. 

Apply some healing lotion. The following may be used 
twice a day: Milk of sulphur, water, and alcohol in equal 
parts, to which may be added one-tenth part of gum muci¬ 
lage. 

If there is much irritation, benzoated oxide of zinc oint¬ 
ment may be applied. 


BRIGHT’S DISEASE AND THE KIDNEYS 


(known also as nephritis) 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Put the patient to bed. 

2. Give lots of water, lemonade, and water with bicar¬ 
bonate of soda. 

3. Limit the diet to milk and water until the doctor 
arranges a diet to fit the case. 

4. Consult the doctor frequently. 


T HE blood coursing through the inside of the human body 
is like a stream of water running through a great city. 
The stream may be pure and sparkling to begin with, but 
pretty soon it becomes contaminated, muddy, and foul. In 
similar manner, the blood would become saturated with poi¬ 
sons of one sort and another, if it were not for certain 
cleansing methods and machinery. 

The chief organs for this purifying process are the kid¬ 
neys. Differing from most other organs, in that they pro¬ 
duce practically nothing themselves, they are concerned 
solely in the cleansing of the blood stream. 

The kidneys, two in number, are planted in the small of 
the back, beneath the loins, one on each side of the spinal 
column. Each kidney is about four inches long and weighs 
a quarter of a pound or more. The substance of this organ 
is made up of a complicated system of minute tubes. These 
open into a hollow space in the interior, known as the pelvis 
of the kidney. This cavity is drained by a tube or duct called 
the ureter. The ureter is more than a foot in length and 
conveys the urine from the kidney to the bladder. 

In health the kidneys perform their function without a 
hitch. The poisons are carried away, dissolved in the urine, 

185 




186 BRIGHT’S DISEASE AND THE KIDNEYS 

and the blood is kept pure and normal in its constituents. 

It is quite a common thing to have these organs affected 
after an illness of some sort. For instance, scarlet fever, 
diphtheria, measles, and other diseases may he followed by 
nephritis, as inflammation of the kidneys is called. Chlorate 
of potash, turpentine, corrosive sublimate, alcohol, and other 
poisons may cause kidney inflammation. 

General inflammation of the kidneys is called Bright’s 
disease, named after Dr. Richard Bright, an English physi¬ 
cian who first described this disease, nearly a hundred years 
ago. There are two forms of Bright’s disease, the acute and 
the chronic. 

In the acute form, there is a paleness and puffiness of the 
face, swelling of the ankles, pain in the back, and fever. 
Sometimes chilliness, nausea, and vomiting may be the first 
symptoms. Changes in the urine are always present and 
are to be determined only by an analysis. 

In the chronic form there may be chronic indigestion, 
progressive loss of weight, ill health, and loss of strength. 
There is a peculiar waxy, pasty appearance of the skin, puf¬ 
finess of the eyelids, and swelling of the ankles. Headache 
is an early and continued symptom. Blindness, partial or 
complete, may result from hemorrhage in the retina of the 
eye. The hemorrhage may occur in the brain, with paralysis 
of the limbs. 

As a rule, the blood-vessel walls become thick and hard. 
The blood pressure is increased, and the artery at the wrist 
feels hard and full. High blood pressure is one of the first 
and most important symptoms of nephritis. 

Hardening of the arteries is called arteriosclerosis, and 
is always associated with kidney disease. It is much dis¬ 
puted which comes first, the nephritis or the arterial hard¬ 
ening. For our purpose it makes no difference; if one comes, 
the other will follow anyhow. What we want to know is 
how to avoid both. 

Overeating is the original sin, and rapid living the added 
crime of modern times. Great meat eaters are in danger of 
Bright’s disease. Late hours, cocktails and whisky, mid- 


BRIGHT’S DISEASE AND THE KIDNEYS 187 

night suppers, strenuous mental work with insufficient exer¬ 
cise, loss of sleep, excessive fatigue—all these are factors. 

In the acute form the patient should be put to bed. 
Under no circumstances should he be about. In view of the 
failure of the kidneys to do their work, the skin must be 
made to act freely. Sweating is an essential feature of the 
cure. Lots of plain water, lemonade, and alkaline water are 
indicated. Needless to say, the diet must be greatly re¬ 
stricted, limited perhaps to milk alone. 

The medical treatment should be conducted by the family 
doctor. 

After fifty, the average person can no longer play tennis 
with safety. You must give up baseball playing and go in 
for less strenuous sports. Likewise, you must treat your 
stomach and kidneys with the greatest consideration. Brit¬ 
tleness of blood-vessel walls is to be feared; so to avoid 
hemorrhages into brain or eyes, temperate muscular exer¬ 
tion is indicated. 

It is to be regretted that society has come to fear Bright’s 
disease and to classify it with cancer and other so-called in¬ 
curable diseases. This is silly. With care in diet and bodily 
habits, one can live a long and useful life, even when the 
victim of this disease. The simple life with proper dietary 
regulation will permit one to go forward in his usual voca¬ 
tion and to compass a reasonable span of life. 

(See also Hardening of the Arteries.) 


BRONCHITIS AND BRONCHIAL ASTHMA 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Correct constipation, if present. (See chapter on 
Constipation, Part II.) 

2. Correct nasal catarrh, if present. (See chapter on 
Nasal Catarrh, Part II.) 

3. See that the sufferer has plenty of fresh air, day and 
night. 

4. Have him live in as even a temperature as possible, 
both in and out-of-doors. 

5. See that he avoids dust and smoke and observes 
scrupulous cleanliness. 

6. Keep the general health in good condition. 


O NE of the recurring and disagreeable diseases of old age 
is bronchitis. Sometimes it is associated with bronchial 
asthma, when it becomes particularly uncomfortable and 
even dangerous to life. 

Bronchitis of adults is more common in persons past 
middle life. Some persons seem susceptible to the disease 
and are liable to frequent attacks. 

City conditions predispose to it. This is true of cities 
where no effort is made to control the smoke. There is no 
excuse for having a city covered by a pall of dense smoke. 
There are smoke-consumers and improved methods of burn¬ 
ing even the poorest brands of soft coal. A little care will 
prevent this evil. 

In certain communities no effort is made to lay the dust 
of the streets. This irritating, choking stuff is permitted to 
blow in clouds and carry misery wherever it goes. 

There are certain industries where gases are generated, 
and when these are breathed into the lungs there is irrita¬ 
tion of the tissues which may end in an attack of bronchitis. 

188 



BRONCHITIS AND BRONCHIAL ASTHMA 189 

On account of the irritating air of the cities, persons who 
can afford it run off to the clear air of the mountains or 
seashore just as soon as they feel the oncoming of an attack. 

Of course, there must he a certain susceptibility, or irri¬ 
tating substances would have no more effect on the person 
with bronchitis than they have on the rest of us. Personally, 
I am satisfied that back of the average attack of bronchial 
asthma is poisoning from food, dust, or failure of elimina¬ 
tion of the body wastes. 

Show me a coughing, rattling-chested, asthmatic old per¬ 
son, and I will show you a person who suffers from chronic 
constipation or from indiscretion in eating. 

Nasal catarrh is often associated with bronchitis. Neg¬ 
lected teeth and diseased gums are other factors to be con¬ 
sidered in the condition. Wherever large quantities of pus 
germs are found anywhere in the head there may be attacks 
of bronchitis. 

Winter-time and the changeable weather of spring and 
fall are bad for the patient susceptible to bronchitis and 
asthma. The more uniform the weather, the better for the 
sufferer. 

If you are subject to bronchitis or bronchial asthma, you 
must take pains to keep your living-rooms at a fairly uni¬ 
form temperature. There may be a certain degree of ener¬ 
vation in the steam-heated house, but there can be no doubt 
that even temperature is a great protection against acute 
attacks of the bronchial diseases. 

One subject to such attacks should take pains to keep his 
body scrupulously clean. His nose and throat should be 
cleansed. (See chapter on Catarrh, Nasal, Part II.) The 
organs of elimination should be made to function properly. 

Needless to say, the condition of the heart and of the 
other organs is an important factor. Bronchitis is an obsti¬ 
nate disease, and bronchial asthma is even more stubborn. 
In order to overcome either, there must be careful study of 
all the possible causes. The surest guarantee of safety from 
attack is to give attention to all those simple rules of hygiene 
which make for good health. Exercise, simple food, fresh 


190 BRONCHITIS AND BRONCHIAL ASTHMA 


air and attention to the needs and functions of the body 
should protect against bronchitis and bronchial asthma. 

(See also Bronchitis, Acute Catarrhal; Catarrh, Nasal; 
Cold, Why We Should Not Neglect a Common; Constipation.) 


BUNIONS AND BUBSITIS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. In acute cases, apply hot-water compresses or soak 
the foot in hot water for twenty minutes twice a 
day. 

2. If there is ulceration, apply balsam Peru to the part. 

3. Protect the inflamed joint by wearing a bunion 
plaster, or by cutting a hole larger than the bunion 
in the shoe and covering it with a soft leather. 

4. For chronic cases, make a daily application of a seven 
per cent solution of iodine. 

5. See that the shoes fit properly. 


S OME of the muscles of the body end in strong, fibrous 
cords called tendons. In several places these tendons 
pass over bones. In such a spot some sort of bearing to 
avoid friction and discomfort is necessary. For this pur¬ 
pose a little sac filled with fluid is provided. This permits 
the tendon to glide over the bony surfaces and allows it to 
perform its function with perfect ease. In other places 
prominent bony elevations are protected by similar devices. 
Such a sac is called a bursa. 

There is no structure or part of the body that is not 
liable to inflammation. Abuse or injury is certain to be fol¬ 
lowed by inflammation somewhere. The bursae are no excep¬ 
tions to the rule. So bursitis, as it is named, is met occa¬ 
sionally. Bursitis, then, is inflammation of one of the 
bursae. 

Bursitis is invariably due to injury of some sort. It may 
come from a kick or blow. Too often it is the result of the 
long-continued wearing of poorly fitted shoes. Perhaps it is 
the result of some heavy object falling on the foot or of 
somebody stepping on it. 


191 




192 BUNIONS AND BURSITIS 

Any of the prominences over the toe joints may be af¬ 
fected. It sometimes involves the whole or the top of the 
foot. Wherever there is a bursal surface there may be in¬ 
flammation. 

The form of bursitis which is most common is inflamma¬ 
tion of the bursa at the inner side of the base of the big toe. 
The chronic form of inflammation of this part, where the 
tissues have become thick and hard, is commonly called a 
bunion. 

The form of the inflammation varies. It may be acute, 
in which event the part is red, swollen, hot, and painful. 
It hurts to use the foot, to step on the foot, or to wear the 
shoe. 

In the chronic form the symptoms are less noticeable. 
The foot gradually enlarges, without great pain, or active 
inflammatory reaction. 

In bunion or any other form of bursitis, the first thing 
indicated in treatment is removal of the cause. If any part 
of the foot is inflamed, attend to the shoe at once. More 
unnecessary misery is due to poorly fitting shoes than to 
almost any other invention of modern times. 

Pressure must be taken oft the bursa. This may be 
accomplished by cutting a hole in the shoe. This hole should 
be considerably larger than the bunion, and it may be cov¬ 
ered by a piece of soft leather to render it inconspicuous. 

A bunion plaster may be worn. This is a ring of thick 
fabric, which is pasted on the foot, surrounding the sore 
spot. It takes pressure off the bursa. 

Strapping with adhesive plaster may distribute the pres¬ 
sure in such a way as to relieve the symptoms. 

Hot-water compresses may be applied, or the foot may 
be immersed in water as hot as can be borne for a period 
of twenty minutes twice a day. In acute cases this will give 
considerable relief. 

In chronic cases a seven per cent solution of iodine ap¬ 
plied locally once a day may be helpful. 

If ulceration occurs, balsam Peru will sometimes assist 
healing. 


BUNIONS AND BURSITIS 


193 


Without correcting the foot-gear, there is little hope of 
cure. Every person, from early childhood, should wear the 
proper shape and size of shoe. This practice will make 
bunions unknown conditions. 


CAR SICKNESS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. In persistent cases have the eyes, including the eye- 
muscles, examined. 

2. If this does not show the cause, have the ears 
examined. 


P ERHAPS you have noticed at a moving-picture show 
that you have felt sick at your stomach. You may have 
imagined that your food has turned against you. In most 
instances, however, nausea appearing under such circum¬ 
stances is caused by eye trouble. 

Lots of folks, even those who commute every day, suffer 
more or less from nausea, headache, and occasionally, vomit¬ 
ing, whenever they ride on the cars. 

Car sickness differs somewhat from seasickness. The 
latter is due to the peculiar effect of the ‘ 4 swells’’ or 4 Tong 
rolls’’ of the sea upon the internal ear. 

What are called the semicircular canals of the internal 
ear are certain spaces filled with fluid. They act as a spirit- 
level to determine our place in space. The pronounced 
movements of the ship on a rolling sea make undue demands 
upon these organs, and the symptoms of seasickness develop. 

To some extent, the same causes operate in producing 
car sickness. But in this condition there are other more im¬ 
portant factors. The most common of these is eye strain 
and lack of balance of the eye muscles. 

It is perfectly natural to read on the cars, or to spend 
the time looking out of the windows at the rapidly shifting 
scenery. In either case you are under the necessity every 
moment of changing the focus of your eyes and of turning 
them in different directions. The same necessity exists in 
looking at a moving-picture screen. 

194 



CAR SICKNESS 


195 


These experiences bring to notice the least failure of ac¬ 
curate adjustment of the focusing and turning power of the 
eyes. Strain which would hardly he noticed in the ordinary 
uses of the eyes becomes very unpleasant and results in all 
the symptoms of what we call car sickness. 

In car sickness, as in seasickness, it is hard sometimes to 
be sure the trouble isn’t a plain case of indigestion. Sea¬ 
sickness, which is much more pronounced than car sickness, 
is unmistakable in that the face and ears of the victim have 
a peculiar greenish, almost transparent, appearance. 

In persistent car sickness the eyes should he examined to 
see if glasses are needed. This test is not complete unless 
the muscles of the eyes are tested. The seeing power may 
be above average, but the muscle adjustment may be very 
defective. 

Should the eyes prove to be all right, then the ears should 
be examined to see if everything is normal. 

There is usually some underlying cause for car sickness, 
but once in a while an apparently perfectly healthy indi¬ 
vidual is found who can never swing in a hammock, ride 
backward on the cars, or get on a train without nausea. For 
such there seems to be no cure, but the average case can be 
overcome as I have suggested. 

(See also Seasickness .) 


CATARRH, NASAL 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Spray the nose very gently night and morning with 
a solution of three grains of camphor, three grains of 
menthol, in one ounce of albolene. 

2. If the spraying does not give relief, make a tampon 
by twisting layers of cotton about a wooden tooth¬ 
pick until it is about the size of a cigarette, letting 
the cotton project a quarter of an inch over the end 
of the pick to protect the tissues of the nose. 

3. Dip the tampon in a ten per cent solution of argyrol. 
Have the sufferer hold his head level and push the 
tampon straight back, keeping it horizontal. 

4. Apply to both nostrils and leave in place for half an 
hour, catching the black discharge on cotton or gauze. 

5. Remove the tampons, have the sufferer blow his nose 
on the gauze, and spray out the nostrils with a five 
per cent solution of baking soda or of salt, or with 
a solution made of three grains of camphor, three 
grains of menthol, in one ounce of albolene. 

6. Repeat this two or three times a week. 


pROBABLY ninety-nine persons out of every hundred, 
* especially in the large cities, have more or less catarrh. 
The prevalence of the disease has made it a favorite condition 
to be discussed by the makers of nostrums and “cures.” 
More “catarrh cures” were on the market a generation ago 
than almost all other remedies combined. 

When one has a cold the lining of the nose gets inflamed. 
This means that the blood-vessels are swollen. As a result 
of the extra blood supply, the glands of the lining membrane 
are overactive and the secretions are increased. 

When the cold has run its course, the swelling disappears, 

196 




NASAL CATARRH 197 

the blood-vessels resume their normal size, and the patient 
is well. 

Suppose you have one cold after another. Before the first 
cold is ended, another is taken. You can see what will hap¬ 
pen. The blood-vessels will lose their elasticity and remain 
swollen. As a result, the tissues in the nose will he chron¬ 
ically overworked. There will be so much mucus that it will 
run out of the nose, requiring the frequent use of the hand¬ 
kerchief. Also, the mucus will run hack into the throat, re¬ 
quiring coughing and hawking to remove it. 

Opening into the nose are several cavities, called the nasal 
sinuses. These, too, are lined with mucous membrane. 

The inflammation of the nasal lining extends to the sinuses. 
These fill with mucus. The result is the amount of mucus 
is enormous, and endless numbers of handkerchiefs are re¬ 
quired to clear the nose. 

Bad as are the symptoms of catarrh, the trouble would 
not be so serious if it were to stop here. But the catarrhal 
condition extends to the ears and into the throat. It affects 
the general health. It makes the victim unhappy because 
he is a nuisance to others, and he is shunned by others be¬ 
cause of his constant hawking and spitting and nose blowing. 

What can be done for catarrh? 

In the first place, avoid it by taking care of every cold. 
Never neglect what is too often considered a matter of little 
consequence. “Great oaks from little acorns grow.” Great 
ills come from neglected colds. 

Cleanliness of the nasal tissues is essential. To this end, 
use an atomizer, not the douche. 

Using a douche is like stroking the hair of a cat the wrong 
way. The tissues of the nose are made up of cells that have 
hair-like coverings, and using the douche irritates them be¬ 
yond reason. 

The solution to be employed is a matter of individual 
choice. Any of the flavored alkaline spray solutions is satis¬ 
factory. Or you may make one of baking soda, salt, and 
water. Three grains of camphor and three grains of menthol 
in one ounce of albolene make a good solution. 


198 


NASAL CATARRH 


Spray the parts, pressing the bulb four or five times on 
each side of the nose. Then, gently, very gently, blow out 
the fluid. Do this night and morning. 

If the spraying does not bring marked improvement after 
a week, or several weeks—according to the length of time 
the condition has existed—buy at the drug store a small roll 
of surgical cotton and two ounces of ten per cent argyrol 
solution. Take a wooden toothpick and twist about it layers 
of the cotton, making a tampon about the size of a cigarette. 
Let the cotton project a quarter of an inch over one end of 
the stick, so as to guard the point of the toothpick and thus 
to prevent sticking it into the tissue of the nose. 

Dip the tampon in the argyrol solution and insert it into 
the nose. Hold the head level and push the tampon straight 
back, keeping it horizontal. Surprising as it may seem, the 
nasal passage does not run up; it runs straight back. 

Apply tampons to both nostrils and leave them in place 
thirty minutes, catching the black discharge on squares of 
cotton or gauze. Usually there is a lot of sneezing. 

Remove the tampons, and after blowing the nose on the 
gauze, spray out the nostrils with any agreeable solution. A 
five per cent solution of soda or of salt is all right for this 
purpose. 

Repeat this treatment two or three times a week. 

If you do not improve after a few weeks, see your doctor. 
He will suggest such further treatment as is indicated. 

Right living from early childhood will prevent catarrh. 
The neglected “snuffles” of babyhood result in the hearing- 
horn of old age. The chronic coughs of old folks are the 
sequels of uncared-for colds and the mild catarrhs of early 
life. 

(See also Cold, Why We Should Not Neglect a Common.) 




CHICKEN-POX, OR VARICELLA 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Send for the doctor at the onset of the attack. 

2. Keep the victim from school and from the rest of 
the family, in a well-ventilated room. 

3. Spray the affected parts several times a day with a 
solution of three tablespoonfuls of hyposulphite of 
soda to one quart of water. 

4. After the crusts have formed, apply oxide of zinc 
ointment. 

5. Keep the sufferer in bed and restrict the diet for sev¬ 
eral days, according to the doctor’s direction. 

6. Boil all toilet articles, handkerchiefs, and bedclothing 
used by the sick person. 


C HICKEN-POX is an acute disease, the chief sign of 
which is the formation of small blisters on the skin. 
The time of incubation from exposure to attack is from 
two to three weeks. It may be only ten days, but is usually 
about fourteen or fifteen days. 

This disease rarely attacks adults, but it should be borne 
in mind as one of the conditions which may be confounded 
with smallpox. 

The onset of the disease may be announced by a chill, by 
pains in the legs and back, or by vomiting. 

The eruption appears within a day of the first symptoms 
of illness. Usually this is noticed to begin on the chest or 
back. Perhaps the face and forehead may be attacked first. 

Red spots, slightly raised above the level of the skin, are 
the primary indication of chicken-pox. In a short time the 
covering of these spots seems to thin. The tissue fills with 
fluid, and pretty soon it becomes a blister. 

After a day or two, the clear fluid of the blister becomes 


199 




200 


CHICKEN-POX, OR VARICELLA 

cloudy, the swelling begins to shrink, and by the end of the 
fourth day it has dried down into a crust. This crust is dark 
brown in color, and pretty soon it falls off. Usually no scar 
is left, although at times there is infection of the skin and 
considerable scarring. This is apt to be the case if the child 
scratches the skin. 

There may be several crops of the eruption breaking out 
here and there during the first three or four days. There 
may be a few spots or a hundred or more. Sometimes a red 
rash precedes the eruption. 

At times the lining of the mouth or throat may be the seat 
of the infection. 

In grown persons the disease may be very severe. In 
children it is sometimes followed by inflammation of the 
kidneys. 

It is thought that the discharges from a chicken-pox pa¬ 
tient, especially from the blisters themselves, and from the 
mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and nose, may carry 
the infection. There is danger until all the scabs have dis¬ 
appeared. 

The child should be excluded from school, of course, and 
kept away from other members of the family. All the toilet 
articles, handkerchiefs, and bed clothing should be boiled. 

If there is much itching, hyposulphite of soda, three table¬ 
spoonfuls to a quart of water, may be used to spray the 
affected parts several times a day. 

Oxide of zinc ointment may be applied to the crusts after 
they form. 

Rest in bed for a few days and restricted diet will hasten 
recovery. 


COLD, WHY WE SHOULD NOT NEGLECT A COMMON 


WHAT TO DO 
To treat the attack: 

i. See chapter on Chills and Colds, Part I. 

To prevent attacks: 

1. See chapter on Coryza, Acute, Part II. 

2. Keep the victim, as far as possible, from contacts 
that would communicate the infection to others. 

3. If attacks are lingering or frequent, consult the 
doctor. 


“fTlAKING cold,” as we call it, is proof that the victim of 
the cold is below normal. He is overworked and tired 
out; he has abused his stomach; he has neglected to be 
regular in his habits; he has worried unusually; he has been 
too much indoors without sufficient ventilation; he has neg¬ 
lected to get the proper amount of sunshine and exercise. One 
or more of these sins must be charged against him. Possibly 
he is guilty of all of them. 

The reason the cold hangs on is that the resistance of the 
patient is low. It was so low that he ‘ 4 took cold,” and it is 
so low that he cannot throw off the ailment. 

A cold should, be recognized as a warning. It is one of 
Nature’s danger signals. When one finds himself with a 
cold he should make an examination of himself to find out, 
if possible, what is wrong. If the fault lies in some easily 
recognized and readily corrected error, well and good. But 
if the cold hangs on and the cause is not easily found, one 
should consult the family doctor at once. Many a serious 
and even fatal illness would have been avoided if this course 
of action had been followed. 


201 




202 WHY WE SHOULD NOT NEGLECT A COLD 

While the illness, in a majority of cases, is a cold, there 
is a chance that it may he something more serious. It may 
be typhoid fever, or pneumonia, or some other serious dis¬ 
ease. Whether any illness follows the run-down condition or 
not depends upon the number and the activity of the disease 
germs that are met when one is under par. We are in con¬ 
stant contact with germs, but when we are well and strong 
they are harmless. It is only when we have neglected our 
bodies and weakened our resistance that germs are to be 
feared. 

What germ is responsible for the so-called common cold 
is not known for certain. It is believed, however, that some 
germ causes it. On this account, we believe that colds are 
contagious, or infectious—that they can be passed from one 
person to another. If colds are contagious, we should avoid 
persons suffering from them when we are “run down” for 
any reason. We should also take every precaution against 
touching to our mouths or noses any substance or article 
which may have upon it the germs of a cold. Unclean hands 
are probably the most common means of carrying the cold 
germs. In no circumstances should the hands be placed upon 
the lips or the nose unless they have been washed. 

Frequent washing with soap and water is a most valuable 
protection against disease. Immediately upon reaching home 
from the street, before meals, and always before going to 
bed, the hands and face should be thoroughly washed and 
the nostrils cleansed. 

With a little care the ordinary cold can be cured in a 
short time. The patient should get into a tub of water as 
hot as can be endured and remain, with only the head above 
the water, for ten to twenty minutes. He should hastily rub 
himself dry and jump into bed between blankets. Then he 
should drink a quantity of hot lemonade or other hot liquid. 
Perspiration will continue for an hour or more, at the end 
of which time he should get up, rub dry with a coarse towel, 
and return to bed and to sleep between dry sheets. 

If this simple course fails to bring marked improvement, 
the patient should consult the family doctor. 


WHY WE SHOULD NOT NEGLECT A COLD 203 


If these miserable colds would confine themselves to the 
nose, they would not amount to much. But the trouble with 
them is that they won’t “stay put.” They will wander off 
into the recesses of the nasal sinuses; they will creep up into 
the ears;^they will dive down into the lungs. 

Nobody has tuberculosis until he has passed what the 
doctors call the “pre-tubercular stage.” Nature is good to 
us. She rarely strikes a mortal blow until she has given us 
due and timely warning. Tuberculosis is preceded by a run¬ 
down condition. Almost invariably there is a history of a 
neglected cold and of repeated colds. The soil is prepared, 
and then the dread germs of tuberculosis take root. 

So it is with the ears. The same kind of inflammation 
produced in the nose by a cold creeps along the Eustachian 
tube and attacks the mucous membrane of the middle ear. 
There is such swelling of the lining of the tube as to cut off 
drainage. Then the secretions dam up in the ear, pressing 
on the delicate tissues, and causing great pain. Finally, the 
accumulation is so great that the fluid breaks through the 
drum of the ear, resulting in a “running ear.” 

The next step is the arrival of a pus-producing germ. It 
finds its way through the middle ear and into the mastoid 
cells. The victim goes to the hospital for a mastoid operation. 

The bones of the face are hollow. Under the cheeks, base 
of the nose, and around the eyes are large cavities, or 
numerous small cells like honeycomb. These are called the 
nasal sinuses. Between some of these and the brain cavity 
is a layer of bone, like paper in its thinness. 

A neglected cold, in its stage of “ripeness,” may invade 
these cavities, causing sinusitis. The particular cavity be¬ 
neath the cheek is called the antrum. This may fill with pus. 
In the late stages of a cold, if the teeth begin to ache, you 
may suspect involvement of this cavity. If you have a vio¬ 
lent pain over one eye, coming on every morning and grow¬ 
ing worse till night, you are probably in for sinus trouble. 

The eyes may become inflamed. You see all the organs 
of the head are in danger if you neglect a cold. This fact 
should warn you that a common cold deserves your imme- 


204 WHY WE SHOULD NOT NEGLECT A COLD 

diate attention. Early treatment of an infection of this sort 
will spare you days of suffering and danger. 

All conditions of the influenza type yield quickly to proper 
methods of treatment. The first essential is the warmth and 
quiet of the bed. It may seem silly to go to bed for so simple 
an ailment as a cold, but it is worth while, because by doing 
so you will cut short the attack. 

You should make more or less of a prisoner of yourself 
for the sake of your own immediate family. If you keep 
away from your loved ones, you guard them against disease. 
Your eating utensils must be boiled and your toilet articles 
kept out of the way of other people. 

If you stay away from business, don’t go to a moving- 
picture show to fill in the time and, incidentally, to infect a 
lot of your neighbors. Home and bed should be the rule. 

I wish I could impose this rule upon everybody who has 
a cold. There can be no doubt that the happiness and health 
of this world would be materially increased if it were en¬ 
forced. 

The Golden Rule is indicated here, if anywhere. With 
pneumonia or typhoid fever you are forced to go to bed, 
because you simply cannot stand on your feet. But here is 
a trouble with which you can drag yourself about and with 
which, unfortunately, you usually do go about, to your own 
detriment and to the danger of your associates. You go on 
street-cars, filling the air with the spray from your coughing 
and sneezing, and thus you infect dozens of persons with 
whom you come in contact. The Golden Rule demands an¬ 
other course of action. 

If we could measure the sum total of lost efficiency due 
to colds, I am sure we would have a very potent argument 
for finding some sure means of preventing them. When one 
pupil in a school, one workman in a factory, or one girl in 
an office or shop comes down with a cold which is nursed at 
business, instead of at home, it is only a matter of a few 
days when any susceptible person in the establishment will 
be affected similarly. 

It is safe to assume that efficiency is lessened at least 


WHY WE SHOULD NOT NEGLECT A COLD 205 


fifty per cent during the acute stages of a cold. The employer 
of several persons could well afford to pay the wages of an 
employee and insist on her staying home during the illness. 
Such a course would pay in the long run, because it would 
prevent an epidemic of colds in his establishment. 

(See also Catarrh, Nasal; Chills and Colds; Coryza, 
Acute.) 


COLITIS, MUCOUS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Regulate the diet, omitting foods containing “rough- 
age” and giving light meals four or five times during 
the day. 

2. See that the sufferer has an abundance of fresh air 
and sleep and is kept as free as possible from mental 
and physical strain. 

3. Consult the doctor. 


D ISEASES are like fashions. Certain ones will enjoy a 
certain popularity, only to be replaced by something new. 
Just now mucous colitis is an ailment which seems very 
prevalent. Perhaps it is common because of our modem 
forms of food or of our modern ways of living. Whatever 
its cause, there appear to he many cases. 

The signs of mucous colitis are not unlike those of com¬ 
mon diarrhea, except that the stool contains strips and 
strings of slimy mucus. There may be paroxysms of colic. 

The patient is worried, restless, and may give every ap¬ 
pearance of illness. He may even be a chronic invalid. 

The acute attacks sometimes alternate with constipation. 
Indeed, chronic constipation may produce the irritation which 
results in the inflammation of the lining of the bowel. 

The name colitis means inflammation of the colon—the 
lower bowel, or large intestine. 

This disease is very obstinate and does not readily yield 
to treatment. One reason for this is that the patient is 
likely to be nervous and constantly worried over his condi¬ 
tion. There are enough pain and colic to keep him uncom¬ 
fortable and conscious of his disease. The result is that his 
mind is on himself much of the time, and he becomes so de¬ 
pressed that his general health suffers. 

This creates a vicious circle. There is ill health to begin 
206 




MUCOUS COLITIS 207 

with. Then, as a result of ill health, there is worry, and, 
as a consequence, more ill health. 

Every indiscretion in eating and every excitement brings 
on an acute attack of colic and a flare-up of the chief dis¬ 
turbance. 

The pain is usually on the left side of the abdomen, near 
the lQwer ribs. Sometimes this region is tender to pressure. 

Almost every patient with colitis has had constipation to 
start with. Constipated persons are always looking for a 
“cure.” Unconsciously, doctors find themselves mentioning 
this or that as “curative” in constipation when we really 
mean that the suggested prescription is a remedy for the 
relief of the immediate symptom of constipation. 

It must be remembered that the failure of regular and 
complete bowel movement is the product of underlying de¬ 
fects in the economy of the patient. His vital forces are 
defective or not functioning. By rectal injection or by the 
use of petroleum oil, or by the taking of salts, the bowel may 
be emptied. But what scientific mind would declare that to 
be the end of the constipation? It has temporarily relieved 
the overloaded reservoir, but the causes are there the same 
as ever. Until these are found and removed, the patient is 
far from being cured. 

The original constipation may be replaced in colitis by 
occasional attacks of diarrhea. Both conditions, opposite as 
they are, are the effects of the same cause. This may be 
outrageous diet. What some persons put into their stomachs 
and call food is one of the wonders of modern life. 

There were many sacrifices made during the World War, 
but I never felt that the food restrictions should be so con¬ 
sidered. The simpler food, the reduced meat consumption, 
and particularly the enforced eating of coarse breadstuffs, 
were all a Godsend to American stomachs. If I had my way 
the Hooverized dietary would be forever perpetuated. 

The treatment of colitis begins with the correction of the 
diet and eating habits of the patient. 

In my experience, in these cases it seems very important 
to exclude substances irritating to the bowel. To this end, 


208 MUCOUS COLITIS 

the food should be prepared in such a way as to eliminate 
harsh, indigestible things. 

It is surprising how much material is taken into the 
stomach which is unchanged during its passage through the 
body. Much of what we call 41 roughage, ’ ’ like the fiber of 
vegetables, acts as a brush to clear the intestines. But if the 
lining membrane is inflamed and tender, this brushing may 
be harmful. 

To escape this danger, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and 
other foods which may contain coarse material of this de¬ 
scription should be strained. The victim of mucous colitis 
can eat almost any food which is prepared in this manner. 

Perhaps I might help you by suggesting some articles to 
be given in this condition. For breakfast, for instance, you 
might try a strained cooked cereal, toasted bread, or Holland 
rusks. Stewed apples, pears, and prunes, provided they are 
strained, may be a part of the meal. Add cream to the cereal 
and to the coffee substitute. 

Meals should be moderate in the quantity of food eaten, 
and perhaps may be a little more frequent than custom pre¬ 
scribes. Therefore, at ten o’clock a piece of toasted bread 
may be given. 

The midday meal may begin with cream soup. This will 
be followed by chicken or lamb chop, macaroni, and strained 
vegetables. Junket, rice, sago, tapioca, farina, or bread pud¬ 
ding, with cream, will supply the dessert. 

At four o’clock toast may be given, and the evening meal 
should be like the breakfast. At all meals limit the consump¬ 
tion of water and give no iced beverages of any sort. 

Then the daily life of the victim must be studied. He 
should have outdoor exercise, fresh air at night, plenty of 
rest, and recreation. 

The medical treatment must be directed by the family 
doctor, but unless the patient helps him by abstaining from 
the harmful practices that have been followed, the doctor can 
do little for him. With the cooperation of patient and doc¬ 
tor, this obstinate disease may be conquered. 

(See also Constipation; Diarrhea .) 


CONSTIPATION 


VKNOWN ALSO AS COSTIVENESS) 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Have the sufferer take his meals at regular hours. 

2. Give simple, well-cooked food. 

3. Avoid foods unduly rich in fats and starches. 

4. Add bran muffins and stewed fruits to his diet. 

5. Give two tablespoonfuls of bran daily. Sprinkle it 
over the cereal, or mix it up with water to be drunk. 

6. Give coarse breads, such as whole wheat and graham, 
with meals. 

7. Have the sufferer get plenty of fresh air and out-of- 
door exercise. 

8. See that he sleeps in a well-ventilated room. 

9. Give a tablespoonful of mineral oil daily. This 
should be swallowed when the stomach is empty— 
either at night, three hours after eating, or a full 
half-hour before breakfast. If the patient does not 
like the oil, give it in the morning, washing it down 
with the juice of an orange. 


P EBHAPS the most common ailment of the human family 
is imperfect bowel action. Many persons are constipated 
from earliest life to the end of their careers. This is par¬ 
ticularly true of those who are engaged in sedentary pur¬ 
suits. 

There are many factors entering into the production of 
constipation. First, there are the gross physical causes. 
Anatomically, the construction of the bowel is such that the 
fecal stream does not flow readily. A great mass of waste ma¬ 
terial accumulates in the cecum, as the blind end of the bowel 
is called, and, in order to expel it from the body, Nature must 
exert undue effort upon the constrictor muscles of the intes- 

209 




210 CONSTIPATION 

tine. Too often these muscular attempts fail to lift the load, 
hut, when continued long enough, may break the resistance 
of the valve between the cecum and the small intestine. 
When this happens, the waste material which has rested in 
the cecum until it has become a reeking and fermenting mass, 
is forced back into the small intestine. The walls of the 
small intestine, made for the greatest degree of absorption, 
begin at once to extract harmful and even poisonous material 
from the feces. 

Fermentation, gas formation, interference with digestion, 
and physical discomfort follow. Physical health is impos¬ 
sible with an abdomen so filled. 

Improper use, or rather the wrongful non-use of the ab¬ 
dominal muscles, is another factor in promoting constipation. 
It is a fault, more commonly observed in men than in women, 
to permit the abdominal muscles to relax and thus to en¬ 
courage the development of “pot-belly.” It is only because 
of the neglect of a few weeks of watchful attention to over¬ 
come a wrong habit that this unsightly and harmful deformity 
is permitted to continue. 

When the abdominal walls relax, becoming pendulous and 
non-resistant, the part of the bowel crossing the abdominal 
cavity, known as the transverse colon, drops down, folds over 
on itself, and produces what is known as “an intestinal 
kink.” This produces another obstruction to the flow of the 
fecal stream. 

It grieves me always to have a friend tell me of daily 
headaches, “sour stomach,” inability to concentrate on his 
work, and the dozen and one other symptoms of modern life. 
Too many of us have discomfort in the stomach an hour or 
two after eating, belching of gas, eructation of mouthfuls of 
food, loss of appetite, and bad dreams. 

If the average person is asked about the bowel movement, 
the answer is: “Fine, a perfect movement every morning.” 

The popular idea is that one “good movement” per day 
indicates the height of digestion and perfect health. Has it 
never occurred to you that the movement of to-day may be 
the waste of food taken several days ago, and possibly last 


CONSTIPATION 


211 


week? Have a definite time of day for evacuating the bowels. 

The movement of the fecal stream may be so labored and 
slow as to be almost imperceptible. A movement a day won’t 
keep the doctor away. 

Wrong eating is responsible for other cases of constipa¬ 
tion. Cattle are provided with a lot of ‘ ‘ roughage, ’ ’ coarse 
food, to give substantial material to the intestinal content 
and thus to give the intestinal walls real substance upon 
which to act. The predigested and delicate foods of the 
modern chef are too unsubstantial for the intestinal good. 

To correct long-standing disability of this sort, first atten¬ 
tion should be given the general soundness and robustness 
of the body. Unless you are whole and hearty, elastic and 
vigorous in your voluntary muscles, you cannot expect the 
muscles of your heart and digestive organs to show great 
power. 

When you study your body and functions and use common 
sense regarding them, you will have a better time and in¬ 
crease your chance of long life. 

There is one thing we must not forget: The body is not 
a train of cars; it is not a chain of separate links. The body 
is a living thing of many vital and necessary parts. If one 
part is gone, the whole thing dies. If one part lags, the whole 
system sutlers. 

The first essential in treating constipation is to restore 
general muscular vigor. There are a few measures which 
really assist and many which give temporary relief, but no 
cure is to be expected until the muscular tissues of the whole 
body are normal in tone and quality. 

Let us assume for the moment that the constipation is 
thoroughly established. We will forget the wrong posture, 
the unscientific choice of food, and all the other bad habits. 
How can immediate relief be afforded? 

Nothing is more damaging than habitual resort to laxa¬ 
tives. The bowel may easily be made a slave to drugs. In¬ 
stead of being cured, the condition is made worse by such 
treatment. 

Petroleum oil or liquid paraffin is a mineral. It is not 


212 


CONSTIPATION 


absorbed by the system any more than a pebble would be. 
It acts by its presence merely as a lubricating agent, and by 
4 ‘greasing’’ the intestine, permits the fecal mass to slide for¬ 
ward and in this way to be quickly expelled. 

In constipation the stool is usually large, dry, and hard. 
Where the petroleum is used, it is small and moist, and easily 
expelled. Usually, too, the bowel action is increased, per¬ 
haps to the extent of two or three extra movements each day. 

Wrongly used, petroleum may interfere somewhat with 
digestion, not permitting the intimate contact of the gastric 
juices with the food. On this account, it is best taken two 
or three hours after eating. A tablespoonful at night will 
go far towards correcting constipation. Several good 
products are on the market, and there is little choice be¬ 
tween them. 

To overcome constipation of long standing, follow these 
simple rules: Have your meals at regular hours. Eat sim¬ 
ple, well-cooked food. Avoid foods unduly rich in fats and 
starches. Add bran muffins and stewed fruits to your diet. 
Take two tablespoonfuls of bran daily. Sprinkle it over your 
cereal, or dissolve it in water and drink it. Eat coarse 
breads, such as whole wheat and graham, with your meals. 
Get plenty of fresh air and outdoor exercise. Sleep in a well- 
ventilated room. 

(See also Appendicitis; Colitis, Mucous; Diarrhea; Gall- 
Stones; Ulcer of the Stomach .) 


CORNS AND CALLOUSES 


WHAT TO DO 

i. Soak the feet in warm water, then dry and apply 
twice a day a solution of a drachm of salicylic acid 
to an ounce of collodion. Carefully paint it on the 
top of the corn, or callous spot, being careful not to 
let it get on the unaffected parts. 


M ECHANICAL irritation long continued produces defi¬ 
nite effects. Everybody knows that the rubbing of a 
poorly fitting shoe will produce a corn on the abused toe. 

Likewise, callouses appear on the soles and heels of people 
who stand long hours. From using the plane, the carpenter 
has thickening of the skin of the thumb and index finger. 

The violinist has callouses on the finger-tips of his left 
hand. The harp player has the same condition in both hands. 

The washerwoman rubs her arms over the top of the tub 
and in this way develops callouses of the forearms. 

The manicurist uses the palm of her hand as a nail-pol¬ 
isher and thus encourages thickening of the skin. The oars¬ 
man, the tennis and baseball player, and other sportsmen may 
be likewise affected. 

Lathe working, harness-making, bookkeeping—no matter 
what the calling—may produce certain definite effects. 

Corns and callouses will disappear if pressure and irri¬ 
tation are taken away. They may be removed by applying 
salicylic acid. This is the basis of many ‘ 1 corn cures. ” It is 
prepared by dissolving one part of salicylic acid in eight or 
ten parts of collodion. This makes a good preparation: One 
ounce of collodion and one drachm of salicylic acid. Usually 
a little cannabis indica is added, but this is unnecessary. 

The mixture is mopped on the callous. It dries immedi¬ 
ately and begins its work. Soak the part thoroughly the next 

213 



214 


CORNS AND CALLOUSES 


day and apply again. In a few days the thickened skin will 
peel off, or may be taken off by scraping. 

A corn may be removed by wrapping the toe with adhe¬ 
sive plaster. Likewise, any callous will disappear if pro¬ 
tected for a time in the same way. 

There is a special form of plaster prepared with oxide of 
zinc. This is particularly good for treating corns or callouses. 

It is difficult to get a skilled workman to use any sort of 
protecting device. He takes pride in his work and despises 
armor, as David did when he went after Goliath. But cal¬ 
louses become annoying and, in cases of infection underneath, 
add to the complications. A wise workman will protect the 
skin against any sort of continued irritation. 

It is possible that long-continued irritation may be a fac¬ 
tor in the development of cancer. It is rare for a callous 
to break down into cancer, but nevertheless it is unwise to 
take any chance. On this account the part of the body ex¬ 
posed to mechanical irritation should be protected. 




CORYZA, ACUTE 


WHAT TO DO 
To treat the attack: 

i. See chapter on Chills and Colds, Part I. 

To avoid attacks: 

1. Have the sufferer* sleep in a well-ventilated room. 

2. Give simple, nourishing food. 

3. See that he has plenty of sunlight, indoors and out. 

4. Require regular outdoor exercise. 

5. Avoid constipation. (See chapter on Constipation, 
Part II.) 

6. Have him wash the hands frequently and wash the 
face and entrance to the nostrils with soap and water 
before retiring. 

7. Give scrupulous attention to the tooth-brush. 

8. Insist upon frequent general baths. 


T HERE are varieties in colds, just as there are different 
types of pneumonia and typhoid fever. 

When you begin to sneeze and your nose runs hot fluid, 
you don’t know whether you have influenza, measles, catar¬ 
rhal fever, or an ordinary cold. Each of these ailments be¬ 
gins with the same symptoms. 

There is a condition which begins with a distinct chill 
or a feeling of chilliness, sneezing, and headache. The head 
and legs sometimes feel as if you had been pounded. 

This sounds like the start of a bad cold, doesn’t it? Well, 
it can be considered as a form of cold, but it is classified by 
the doctor as acute catarrhal fever. Most of us call it acute 
coryza. 

This disease is due to an infection of the lining membrane 
of the nose and throat, and sometimes of the voice box and 
bronchial tubes. It is in reality a germ disease. Usually 
it is caused by the Micrococcus catarrhalis, the germ of 

215 




216 


ACUTE CORYZA 


catarrh. There are other germs which are capable of pro¬ 
ducing similar changes in the tissues and the same symp¬ 
toms. 

There is no use getting scared of these germs, because 
they are always surging around. You can’t escape them. 
They live in almost every nose and throat and stand guard 
over the tissues, waiting for a chance to cause trouble. 

Germs are like garden seeds. They require the right soil, 
the right conditions of warmth and moisture, the right sort 
of weather. Unless all the conditions are favorable, they do 
not thrive. 

In the fall and spring, when the weather is fitful and un¬ 
certain, the germs of coryza are happy. They grow strong 
and dangerous. Then it is that epidemics occur and multi¬ 
tudes of the population suffer. 

You see such epidemics are lesser examples of the terrible 
1918 epidemic of influenza. But this particular disease is not 
to be feared as is influenza, because pneumonia does not join 
it, as it does influenza. It is the complicating pneumonia 
which makes the latter so dreadful. 

The further symptoms of acute coryza are like those of 
the common cold, except that they are more pronounced and 
that fever is an invariable accompaniment. The disease runs 
its course in five or six days. 

A hot bath and bed are the best advices I can give as to 
treatment, but I want you to live and guide your actions in 
such a way that you won’t get an attack. 

Lots of sleep in a w T ell-ventilated room, simple eating, care 
of the bowels, and outdoor .sunlight and fresh air will do 
more than medicine. Wash your.hands frequently, wash your 
face with soap and water. On your return from business and 
before retiring, wash out the openings of the nostrils. Take 
particular care in the use of the tooth-brush. Take frequent 
baths. Avoid sudden chilling when overheated. These are 
the secrets of protection against acute coryza and against a 
whole army of other diseases. 

(See also Catarrh, Nasal; Chills and Colds; Cold, Why 
We Should Not Neglect a Common; Influenza.) 


COUGH, DRY 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Consult the doctor to find the cause. 

2. Remove the cause. 


E VERY once in a while we see an article about the evils 
of coughing in public places. These discussions relate 
to the annoyance to the listeners and to the danger of spread¬ 
ing disease. 

There are two kinds of coughs—dry cough and ‘‘ produc¬ 
tive cough”— cough with expectoration. All coughs are dis¬ 
agreeable to those who listen and, for that matter, to the 
afflicted one himself. Of course, there is ample excuse for 
the productive cough, because there is material which must 
be removed. 

Most of the dry coughs, or ‘‘irritant coughs,” as they are 
called, are unnecessary. They do no good and may actually 
cause harm to the sufferer. 

There are a lot of causes for dry, irritating, useless 
coughs. In looking it up, I was surprised to find how many 
separate and distinct causes there are for coughs. One au¬ 
thority enumerates twelve such causes. I want to speak of 
some of them. 

In certain forms of heart disease, the blood is not handled 
properly by the heart. As a result, the blood is dammed back 
into the lungs, causing congestion and irritation. Then 
there comes the impulse to cough. As you see, there is noth¬ 
ing needing expulsion. There is stimulation of the nerves 
and the feeling that one must cough to get rid of the irritant. 

We hear about “stomach cough”—a cough due to un¬ 
digested food in the stomach, or to intestinal disturbance, 
possibly to intestinal worms. Children sometimes wake up 

217 




218 


DRY COUGH 


in the night with this variety of cough. There will be spells 
of dry coughing like cramps or whooping-cough. 

You will be surprised to know that irritation in the ear 
may produce coughing. When wax accumulates in the ear 
and there is made an attempt to remove it by syringing or 
by the use of instruments, a sudden and uncontrollable 
cough is not unusual. This is called the “ear cough.’’ 

Some throats and bronchial tubes are very sensitive to 
the slightest irritating vapor, to dust, and to smoke. When 
most of us would be entirely unconscious of the presence of 
some chemical irritant in the air, these delicate mortals go 
into paroxysms of coughing. 

A dry cough may be due to pure nervousness. 

Inflammation of the brain coverings, especially at the base 
of the brain, may have a dry cough as one of its signs. 

These are some of the many causes for this irritating 
symptom. If you are the frequent victim of this kind of 
cough, have your doctor tell you why. The treatment will 
suggest itself often in determining the cause. 

(See also Adenoids; Cold, Why We Should Not Neglect a 
Common; Tonsils, Enlarged .) 



DEAFNESS 


WHAT TO DO 
To prevent deafness: 

1. See that colds ar'e never permitted to linger. (See 
chapter on Chills and Colds, Part I.) 

2. Avoid or promptly treat adenoids or nasal catarrh, 
if either develops. (See chapters on Adenoids and 
Nasal Catarrh, Part II.) 

To treat deafness: 

1. Consult an ear specialist. 

2. If poor health is responsible for the condition, a 
change of climate may be beneficial. 


XTEGLECT of nasal symptoms in babyhood or childhood 
is the history of most cases of adult deafness. With lack 
of nasal cleanliness has come the development of adenoids. 
These, in turn, have stopped up the Eustachian tubes, the 
passages which lead from the nose to the ears and are in¬ 
tended to give air and drainage to the middle ear. 

Gradually the condition produces thickening of the mucous 
lining of these tubes and of both ears. Then the drums be¬ 
come thickened, the joints of the little bones in the ear be¬ 
come stiffened, and, gradually but surely, the acuteness of 
hearing disappears. 

Catarrh is responsible for these uncomfortable results. 
The origin and progress of catarrhal deafness should warn 
each of us against neglect of the early nasal symptoms. 

A cold should not be permitted to “hang on.” If it does 
not respond to treatment as it should, something is wrong. 
Nasal discharge should not persist. If it does, see your doc¬ 
tor at once. 

Douches are unsafe methods of cleaning the nose. An 
atomizer may be used to advantage. It matters little what 

219 




220 


DEAFNESS 


solution is selected. Any alkaline solution, or one of the 
many pleasantly flavored preparations on the market, may 
be employed. Spray the nose thoroughly and very, very 
gently blow out the secretion, blowing one side and then the 
other. 

In acute conditions argyrol or any of the colloidal silver 
preparations may be applied on cotton to the nasal passages. 

When deafness is actually present, it requires the atten¬ 
tion of the ear specialist. He has ways of opening the closed 
Eustachian tubes and of massaging the stiffened ear tissues. 

The question of climate is frequently raised in discussing 
deafness. If one has the so-called “dry catarrh,’’ he is better 
off at sea level, or in any moist climate than he would be 
elsewhere. 

In catarrhal conditions where there is an abundance of 
mucus secretion, dry climates like North Carolina, Arizona, 
Minnesota, or any district away from moisture may be 
helpful. 

On general principles, however, I believe that treatment 
by a good aurist or in a first-class dispensary is more likely 
to prove beneficial than removal to another climate. Deaf¬ 
ness is rarely benefited directly by such a change. If poor 
health is at the bottom of the trouble, a change of residence 
may improve the health and thus better the deafness. 

Deafness is sometimes due to an accumulation of wax in 
the ears. This can be easily removed by the doctor. 

(See also Adenoids; Catarrh, Nasal; Chills and Colds; 
Earache.) 


DIABETES 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Consult the doctor. 

2. Adhere strictly to the diet agreed upon by the doctor. 

3. Have the teeth and eyes examined and attended to. 

4. See that the sufferer sleeps in a well-ventilated room, 
takes a daily bath, is kept comfortably warm, and is 
kept as free as possible from worry and mental strain. 


M ANY a person has been condemned to a life of mental 
anguish and unhappiness because the urinalysis report 
showed sugar. The public has been taught that sugar in the 
urine indicates a serious and hopeless disease—diabetes. 

This impression is most unfortunate. In many cases the 
presence of sugar in the urine, or even in the blood, is a tem¬ 
porary condition. It may indicate a relatively unimportant 
trouble, called glycosuria. The cause of this passing disturb¬ 
ance may be an unbalanced diet. Perhaps the food has been 
overrich in sugar and starch. 

In diabetes, as in every form of sickness, it is necessary, 
first of all, to keep the patient free from worry. It makes 
no difference whether he be suffering from acute or chronic 
diabetes, the prospect of cure or control should be kept before 
him. 

Careful attention to the general health, moderate exer¬ 
cise, and a diet free from carbohydrates are essential. 

You will recall that sugar and starches are grouped to¬ 
gether chemically and are called carbohydrates, but do not 
misunderstand about the diet. Great harm can be done by 
too rapid withdrawal of the carbohydrates. It must be done 
gradually. 

In diabetes there is a failure on the part of the body to 
221 




222 


DIABETES 


utilize and appropriate the sugar which is taken. It accumu¬ 
lates in the blood and seriously interferes with the normal 
action of that vital fluid. 

The result of this disturbance is similar to the effect of 
a slow-acting poison. The victim runs down, loses flesh, and 
may become blind. 

Under certain conditions there is such profuse poisoning 
that stupor and even total loss of consciousness are observed. 

Naturally, this disease has held the attention of medical 
men and research workers. Recently Dr. Banting of To¬ 
ronto astonished the world by the announcement of his 
remedy, insulin. 

Insulin is not a cure for diabetes. It is an agent which 
makes it possible for the body to handle the carbohydrates. 
When it is taken every day the diabetic goes along as well as 
anybody. It must be taken regularly, however, and persist¬ 
ently. This discovery has stimulated renewed study of the 
disease. 

Diabetes is one of the obscure conditions. Just what 
causes it and where the original trouble is are matters of 
dispute among doctors. All agree, however, that it is a 
disease requiring care and which, if neglected, will result 
seriously. 

This is one of the diseases likely to be overlooked. 

Sometimes I think we talk too much about our real or 
imaginary ailments. It must be admitted, however, that 
more widely spread knowledge of certain diseases would 
make for the good of mankind. It would drive to the doctor 
in time for cure, many patients who now report too late. 

So it is with diabetes. Early recognition will enable the 
victim to begin treatment at a favorable stage. 

If you are thirsty every ten minutes, have to get up sev¬ 
eral times every night, and are constantly losing flesh, you 
have a group of symptoms to be looked upon with suspicion. 
These are signs of diabetes. Examination of the urine will 
reveal, not only a great increase in quantity, but also the 
presence of sugar. The normal quantity of urine for a 
healthy person is about one quart in twenty-four hours. In 


DIABETES 223 

diabetes the amount passed will be two or three quarts, or 
even a gallon or more. 

With such an escape of fluid, it can be understood why 
there is a tremendous thirst. The amount of water consumed 
every day is proportionate to the amount discharged. 

Stomach symptoms are met. The most common is the in¬ 
creased appetite and especially the craving for sugar and 
starches and fats. There may be marked dyspepsia and 
every symptom of indigestion. 

The skin may show boils and pus-capped pimples. Almost 
invariably there is intense itching. The whole body or cer¬ 
tain parts may itch terribly. 

Headache, neuralgia, stupor, and, in advanced cases, pro¬ 
found unconsciousness are uncomfortable symptoms. 

There may be cramps in the calves of the legs or else¬ 
where. 

The eyes may show trouble. Inflammation of the various 
parts or cataract and blindness may result from diabetes. 

More common than all the other symptoms, except the 
urinary changes, are the loss of strength and continued loss 
of flesh. The collar will be found many sizes too large for 
the narrowing neck, and accustomed exercises will prove too 
wearisome. 

In the treatment, first consideration must be given the 
diet. On general principles, sugar and starchy foods should 
be avoided. 

Nuts and fruit, gluten bread, and certain fresh vegetables 
may be eaten. Tea and coffee, if they are used, should be 
sweetened with saccharin instead of sugar. Lean meat, eggs, 
and oatmeal may be taken. 

These are but suggestions, and every patient should ad¬ 
vise with his physician regarding his dietary. Experience 
will enable him very soon to choose food adapted to his needs 
and powers of digestion. 

Plenty of sleep in a well-ventilated room, a daily bath, 
and plenty of bodily warmth are indicated. 

The teeth are apt to decay rapidly in diabetes, and on this 
account, they should be given frequent and special attention. 


224 


DIABETES 


Worry and mental overwork are great factors in produc¬ 
ing the condition. Diabetes is a disease watching every 
chance to attack the tired business man. The victim must 
adapt his mental condition to his physical necessity and stop 
worrying. Mental poise must be cultivated; it is essential 
to cure. 

This condition is more serious in children or young per¬ 
sons than in those in middle life. A person past fifty may 
have the symptoms for years and years and yet preserve 
fairly good health. 

The worn-out business man who submits to the right 
treatment will be returned to his former health. 

It is not pleasant to be told, after an examination for life 
insurance, that you are a bad risk and have been rejected 
on account of diabetes. 

After the first shock is over, determine to follow the ad¬ 
vice of your physician, confident that care and patience will 
be rewarded by a return to useful health and strength. 

Dr. Allen, formerly of the Rockefeller Institute, worked 
out a system of fasting and dieting which has attracted wide 
attention as a means of controlling the disease in the great 
majority of patients treated. After taking the treatment, by 
careful regulation of the food intake and habits, the afflicted 
person may look forward to a reasonably long life. 

I shall describe in a general way the Allen method. This 
is done, not with the idea that any diabetic reader may apply 
the method in his own case, but to give the patient an intel¬ 
ligent idea of what is expected of him when he asks his 
doctor to supervise such a course of treatment. 

Any method of cure involving strict dieting and the exclu¬ 
sion of much-longed-for articles of food is not easy to follow. 
It takes character and will-power to win out in such a fight, 
but your life is precious and the sacrifices are well worth¬ 
while. 

First, the patient is required to go without solid food until 
the urine is free from sugar. Clear broth, coffee, and tea 
are allowed. This stage of treatment is ended when a 
twenty-four hours’ sample of urine shows no sugar. 


DIABETES 


225 


After this, vegetables, fruit, potatoes, oatmeal, and, 
finally, bread are given. If the urine remains free from 
sugar for two or three days, eggs and meat are added to the 
dietary. 

When sugar returns, complete fasting must be practiced 
for twenty-four hours, or more, if the sugar does not dis¬ 
appear. 

After the condition appears to be under control, there 
must be one fast day each w T eek, or, at least, there must be 
a partial fast or a day of restricted eating. 

You will see that this is a pretty strenuous method of 
cure, but it is worthy of a trial, provided your family doctor 
agrees. Without his cooperation and laboratory oversight, 
no progress can be made. He will be glad to help you, if 
he considers the treatment applicable to your case. 

Here is a list of the foods which, as a general rule, may 
and may not be safely taken by a person suffering from 
diabetes: 

Eggs, meat, milk, nuts, vegetables (except those named 
below), fruit, gluten breads. These beverages are permitted: 
Broths, buttermilk, skim-milk, Kumyss, mineral waters. Po¬ 
tatoes and baked beans may be eaten very sparingly. Do not 
take peas, tomatoes, corn, smoked or salt fish, crabs, shrimp, 
liver, fried meat, flour, breads (except gluten), onions, pastry, 
ice-cream, rice, sago, honey, sugar, cream, chocolate, cider, 
ale, beer or gin. 


DIPHTHERIA 


WHAT TO DO 
To avoid an attack: 

1. Have the Schick test made to find whether or not 
the child is susceptible to diphtheria. 

2. If the test shows him not to be immune, have him 
vaccinated as a protection against the disease. 

To treat the attack: 

1. Send for the doctor, who will advise antitoxin at 
once. 

2. Keep the sufferer isolated, and burn or boil all arti¬ 
cles used by him. 


M OST diseases, as they are now understood, have been 
studied and named in modern times. A few have been 
known for hundreds of years, but knowledge of diphtheria 
runs away back through the ages. The disease was men¬ 
tioned in the .Babylonian Talmud and was accurately de¬ 
scribed in the first century. 

Diphtheria is a terrible disease. I do not hesitate to speak 
in the frankest terms of its ravages and fatalities, because 
it is a preventable disease. One may soften the story of 
inevitable and unescapable disease, but when there has been 
given a means of protection against the attack, we may 
frankly picture the dangers of a given condition. I am glad 
to do this in regard to diphtheria, if for no other reason 
than to drive you to the doctor for appropriate treatment 
to guard you from infection. 

It is not long ago that a means of treating diphtheria was 
given humanity. Now, something equally wonderful has been 
determined. I refer to what is known as the “Schick test.” 

By this test it is possible to determine who are susceptible 
to diphtheria. Not every one can take diphtheria. Fortu- 

226 




DIPHTHERIA 


227 


nately, many persons are naturally immune to this terrible 
disease. Only about twenty per cent of persons past twenty 
years of age are in danger of diphtheria. As a matter of 
fact, not over thirty per cent of persons past five years are 
susceptible to it. Of course, a much smaller percentage of 
persons actually have it, but between the ages of six months 
and three years, almost three-quarters of the children will 
have it, if exposed. 

Since there is a means of vaccinating against diphtheria 
and thus protecting the child, it is important to find out 
whether he needs protection or whether he comes in the 
twenty-five to thirty per cent group who have been given 
protection by kind Nature. 

When I was a boy, every child used to run a pin through 
the superficial layers of the skin of the fingers to show that 
“it didn’t hurt.” In the Schick test a hollow needle is in¬ 
serted into the very outside layer of the skin in the same 
painless manner. A tiny drop of toxin is injected through 
this needle. 

Children susceptible to diphtheria and therefore liable 
to have it will have what is called a “reaction.” That is, 
the spot where the toxin was injected will turn red and look 
like the beginning of a pimple, or like a mosquito bite. It 
will stay red for a week or so. 

On the other hand, if the child has natural protection, or 
“immunity,” as it is called, there will be no reaction, no 
redness. 

When there is a positive reaction, the child should be 
immunized. That is, he should be vaccinated to protect him 
against the disease. It has been found that when the pro¬ 
tecting injections are given, fully ninety per cent are safe 
and will never have the disease. 

Almost one-quarter of the children who have diphtheria 
between the ages of one and five die of the disease. 

Every parent of a young child should discuss this prob¬ 
lem with the family doctor. It is too important to overlook. 

Diphtheria is one of the most contagious of diseases. 
The virulence of the poison is shown by the brief period of 


228 DIPHTHERIA 

incubation, the disease appearing two or three days after 
exposure. 

It is all too common for those who care for patients sick 
with diphtheria to take the disease. Osier says, “Few dis¬ 
eases have proved more fatal to physicians and nurses.’’ 

Diphtheria begins with chilliness, aching of the back and 
legs, and fever. In very young children a convulsion may 
be the first sign of illness. 

It is not uncommon in any disease for a young child to 
have a convulsion when an older person has a chill. This 
is a good thing to remember, because a young mother is apt 
to be very much alarmed if her baby has a “fit,” as it is 
commonly called. Really, such a convulsion means no more 
than a chill. 

In the beginning of diphtheria the throat is sore. Swal¬ 
lowing may be painful. Pretty soon there are patches of 
membrane on the tonsils and sides of the throat. On the 
third or fourth day the entire surface of the throat may be 
covered with a grayish, dirty-colored membrane. This may 
be thick and leathery. It clings to the tissues underneath, 
and, if it is pulled off, a bleeding surface is left. 

The temperature is not so high as in tonsilitis. This may 
help to distinguish between the two diseases. In diphtheria 
it goes to about 103 degrees. The pulse is rapid, reaching 
110 or 120 degrees. 

In severe cases there is a profound poisoning of the gen¬ 
eral system and pronounced illness of the patient. The face 
is pale and grayish. The breathing is disturbed, and the 
victim gives every evidence of serious sickness. 

It is very common to have paralysis as one of the com¬ 
plications of diphtheria. Paralysis of the throat, paralysis 
of the eye muscles, and occasionally paralysis of the heart 
are met. 

When a child has sore throat with any sort of membrane, 
there should be an immediate laboratory examination of the 
discharge. Until the report is received, he should be kept 
away from the rest of the family. 

The employment of antitoxin has revolutionized the treat- 


DIPHTHERIA 


229 


ment of diphtheria. The earlier it is given the better. If 
delayed until the third or fourth day, it is of doubtful value. 

Sprays, steam inhalations, and swabbing will promote 
comfort. The patient must be sustained by nourishing food. 
The family doctor will give the essential medical care. 

(See also Disinfection and Fumigation; Sore Throat .) 


ECZEMA 

(also known as salt-rheum) 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Give a tablespoonful of mineral oil every night, three 
hours after eating. 

2. Apply a solution of three tablespoonfuls of hyposul¬ 
phite of soda to a quart of water, to relieve the 
itching. 

3. As a protective agent, apply benzoated oxide of zinc 
ointment. 

4. If crusts have formed, make a poultice of four table¬ 
spoonfuls of starch to half a tablespoonful of boracic 
acid. Dissolve with a little cold water, and then add 
a pint of boiling water, stir briskly, and let cool. 
Spread the paste on gauze and apply to the encrusted 
surface. After a few hours, when the crusts have 
softened, they can be removed without irritation. 

5. Let the sufferer abstain from starches, sugar, and 
coffee, eat simple food, and add bran muffins to the 
diet. 

6. Consult a doctor to find the cause, and have it re¬ 
moved. 


TT is rare, indeed, for any person to go through life with- 
out some skin blemish. The fairer the skin and the rarer 
the eruption, the more it annoys when it does come. 

There are many forms of inflammation of the skin. The 
commonest type is called eczema, or salt-rheum. 

Like any other inflammation, the first symptom of eczema 
is redness. The affected part is red at all times, but under 
excitement, irritation from rubbing or scratching, exposure 
to heat, or after violent exercise, the redness is increased. 

Little blisters form on the skin and, as these break, there 
is more or less moisture on the affected surface. 

230 




ECZEMA 


231 


Later, scales and crusts take the place of the blisters. 

With it all, the affected part itches, especially when the 
redness is increased from any cause. At times the itching is 
almost unbearable. 

It is difficult to tell the difference between simple inflam¬ 
mation of the skin, called dermatitis, and true eczema. The 
former is due to some outside irritation of the skin, and 
eczema is due to some internal cause. 

An example of dermatitis is the inflammation of the skin 
of the ear caused by the awkward use of a hair brush. Here 
is a difficulty due to a known external irritant. In eczema 
there may be similar symptoms, but there is no mechanical 
cause to explain the condition. 

The eczema may be confined to the face or to some part 
of the face. The face seems to possess three zones: The 
upper third of the face is the forehead, the middle third takes 
in the cheeks, nose, and upper lip, the lower third is the chin. 
When eczema attacks this region, while it may involve the 
whole face, it usually confines itself to one of the thirds. 

Other forms of eczema attack the arms, legs, or the body 
itself. Sometimes it comes on the hands, between the fingers, 
back of the ears, or in the bends of the legs or arms. It may 
involve the scalp or other hairy portions of the body. 

Any skin blemish is probably an evidence of lowered re¬ 
sistance. It may be the outward and visible sign of a poorly 
working stomach and intestines. These red blotches m&y be 
the danger signal of Nature. They may indicate her protest 
against abuse of the digestive organs. They may mean that 
the kidneys are failing in their work. 

It matters not whether the patient is a grown person or 
an infant, the presence of eczema should direct attention to 
the condition of the bowels. If constipation is present, it 
should be corrected. A tablespoonful of petroleum oil for 
an adult, given on retiring, will be helpful. 

Excesses in food, highly seasoned food, abuse of alcohol, 
midnight suppers, and all indiscretions in diet are productive 
of eczema, and must not be permitted if cure is to be had. 

The “run-down” person is often troubled with this dis- 


232 


ECZEMA 


ease. Overwork, loss of sleep, worry—anything that pro¬ 
duces nervous exhaustion—is a sufficient cause for eczema. 
Tired-out persons should be warned by the skin eruption. 

If you have a tendency to eczema, you must take as good 
care of your skin as you would of the fine veneer of a grand 
piano. 

Some skins are so sensitive that certain waters will irri¬ 
tate them. It may be necessary to use cistern water or dis¬ 
tilled water or water that has been softened with borax. 

Soaps must be chosen with care and may have to be 
omitted entirely. Try this, that, and the other soap until 
you have hit on one that does not irritate. Castile is one of 
the mildest of soaps. If no soap seems to suit, use uncooked 
oatmeal instead. When I was a boy and had badly chapped 
hands, my mother used to give me uncooked oatmeal for 
cleansing purposes, instead of the irritating and painful 
soaps. 

If the hands or face chap easily, you should be careful to 
dry the skin thoroughly after washing and apply powder or 
glycerine. 

When thick crusts form, they may be removed by a poul¬ 
tice made of boracic acid and starch. It is prepared just as 
paste is made. Mix together four tablespoonfuls of starch 
and half a tablespoonful of boracic acid. Add a little cold 
water and stir until the powders are dissolved. Then pour 
on half a pint or more of boiling water, stirring briskly in 
the meantime. 

After it has cooled, spread this paste on gauze or thin 
cloth and apply to the encrusted surface. After a few hours, 
the crusts will be so softened that they can be removed with¬ 
out irritating the tender skin. 

The itching may be relieved by application of ordinary 
baking soda dissolved in water. Oxide of zinc ointment may 
be had at the drug store, and is frequently a means of relief. 
Sometimes oxide of zinc is mixed with coal tar and used to 
dry up the blisters of eczema. 

One of the most efficacious remedies for itching of the skin 
is hyposulphite of soda. Use three tablespoonfuls to a quart 


ECZEMA 


233 


of water. If the whole body itches, place a cupful or more 
in half a bath-tub full of water and get into the solution. It 
will add greatly to your comfort. 

In every case the family doctor should be consulted. He 
will determine whether or not the kidneys or other organs 
require attention. 

(See also Hives and Other Skin Troubles Due to Food 
and Drug Poisoning .) 


EPILEPSY 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. See that the victim cannot hurt himself. 

2. Place a rolled-up handkerchief between the teeth at 
the side of the mouth to prevent tongue biting. 

3. Do not try to use restoratives, as for fainting. 


W HEN I was a boy in the primary school there was a 
classmate who used to have a “fit” two or three times 
a month. The whole schoolroom was thrown into‘disorder. 
Teacher and pupils were on edge for half a day afterward. 
My first idea of being a doctor came from the care I was 
called upon to give that poor boy. For some reason, I was 
assigned to this duty. So my earliest memory of disease is 
associated with epilepsy. 

The word epilepsy is from the Greek and means seizure . 
It well describes the sudden and violent attacks of this ter¬ 
rible disease. 

Epilepsy is a nervous disturbance, which manifests itself 
by periodical attacks of unconsciousness and is accompanied 
usually by convulsions. 

The victim has some sort of warning of the attack and 
may utter a loud scream or a terrible groan. He falls to the 
ground, kicking his feet, clenching his hands, frothing at the 
mouth, and possibly biting his tongue. The eyes roll upward 
and the face turns purple. 

In a few minutes consciousness returns and the patient 
falls into natural sleep. Usually he awakens feeling perfectly 
normal, although there may be some mental dullness for a 
time. 

In another form there may be no convulsions. The attack 
may consist merely of a temporary loss of consciousness. 

234 



EPILEPSY 


235 


The victim of epilepsy may be perfectly normal between 
attacks. Indeed, epileptics are often far above the average 
in intelligence and ability. But they never know when they 
will be stricken down by one of their dreaded spasms. 

It is generally believed that epilepsy is due to undue 
drainage of nerve energy. We have just so much energy, and 
unless this is carefully husbanded, trouble will follow. If 
the place of leakage can be found, there is bright prospect 
of cure. 

I have seen wonderful improvement in a few cases by cor¬ 
recting the abnormal eye condition. If there is eye strain 
from the need of glasses, or if the patient is wearing the 
wrong glasses, correction of the difficulty will be most helpful. 
Sometimes the eye muscles are out of adjustment. The eyes 
are not working together; there is no ‘‘team work.” In such 
cases the oculist can accomplish wonders. 

Intestinal trouble, abscessed teeth, or other pus condition 
may be responsible for the attacks. Every such patient 
should be carefully examined for any upset in his digestive 
system. 

The out-of-door life, simple living, good food, plenty of 
sleep, a well-ventilated bed-room, and plenty of exercise—all 
these will build up the body and strengthen the nervous 
system. 

The hereditary causes back of the constitutional types are, 
as yet, puzzling to the medical profession, but epilepsy is 
under such painstaking study that probably not many years 
will pass before this is included in the list of preventable 
diseases. 

(See also Fits.) 


ERYSIPELAS, OR ST. ANTHONY’S FIRE 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Paint the affected parts with a twenty to fifty per 
cent solution of ichthyol in water, or with an oint¬ 
ment of twenty to forty per cent of ichthyol in vase¬ 
line. 

2. Apply a solution of hyposulphite of soda, three table¬ 
spoonfuls to one quart of water, to relieve the itch¬ 
ing and discomfort. 

3. Consult your doctor. 


IN olden times the name St. Anthony’s fire was given to a 
**■ condition in which there is suddenly inflamed skin, accom¬ 
panied by swelling, redness, and more or less fever. The dis¬ 
ease is more commonly called erysipelas. 

Erysipelas or St. Anthony’s fire is a familiar disease met 
everywhere in the world. Sometimes it appears in epidemic 
form, hut usually it springs up in unexpected places. In the 
best of hospitals, even, it may suddenly appear, to the dis¬ 
comfiture of every surgeon who may have cases there at the 
time. 

The disease is due to a germ, believed to be a special form 
of the dreaded streptococcus family. All the streptococci are 
dangerous beasts. Any condition due to, or complicated by, 
any variety of this germ is to be taken seriously. 

The chief symptom of erysipelas is inflammation of the 
skin. There is also fever and sometimes delirium. 

Certain constitutional conditions cause the development 
of this disease. Bright’s disease is the chief of these. Gen¬ 
eral debility and alcoholism are important factors. Following 
an operation, this condition may be present as a serious com¬ 
plication. 


236 



ERYSIPELAS, OR ST. ANTHONY’S FIRE 237 

Anything which lowers the powers of resistance of the in¬ 
dividual makes him susceptible to the attack of the germ of 
erysipelas. Lack of food, malnutrition, old age, and debility 
are all factors. An injury or a trifling abrasion about the 
nose, mouth, or elsewhere may give entrance to the germs. 

Erysipelas is not to be feared when it attacks a person in 
fair health. When it complicates some other disease or when 
it comes after a severe injury or a surgical operation, it is 
more to be dreaded. In old folks and debilitated persons it is 
more serious than in young and vigorous people. Even when 
neglected, the average case will recover within a reasonable 
time, but the head cases require careful treatment. 

The period between exposure or infection and the onset of 
the disease varies from three or four days to a week. 

The beginning of erysipelas is like the onset of most com¬ 
municable diseases. It starts with a chill, more or less pro¬ 
nounced, followed by all the symptoms of fever. There are 
restlessness, sleeplessness, and sometimes loss of conscious¬ 
ness. 

The first change in the skin is observed usually on the 
cheeks or over the bridge of the nose. At first there is a little 
patch of red skin. This patch gradually grows larger. The 
involved surface is swollen and stands out above the level of 
the rest of the skin. The affected part is hard and it appears 
glazed and shiny. 

The patch of erysipelas is perfectly defined. It does not 
fade off into the surrounding parts. The edges are distinct, 
both in redness of color and in swelling. 

Sometimes there are little blisters or larger blebs on the 
inflamed base. In many cases the surface is smooth and 
shining. 

The inflamed surface sometimes itches and burns, but ordi¬ 
narily there is little pain. If the attack involves the face, ear, 
or scalp, there is such intense redness and swelling that it sur¬ 
prises you the patient is not suffering more. 

Heart or brain disease, inflammation of the kidneys, pleur¬ 
isy, and even pneumonia are some of the complications which 
may follow erysipelas. 


238 ERYSIPELAS, OR ST. ANTHONY’S FIRE 

The seriousness of the disease depends upon the general 
condition of the patient. 

Erysipelas runs a pretty definite course. It may end in 
one week or last for several weeks. Usually an attack clears 
up in about ten days. 

Many applications have been suggested for the control of 
the local symptoms. The most common remedy is ichthyol. 
This may be used as a watery solution, or as an ointment. If 
in water, it is usually made up in twenty to fifty per cent 
solution. In ointment form it may be used in strengths of 
twenty to forty per cent in vaseline. This is painted on the 
affected parts. 

The itching and discomfort are sometimes relieved by 
hyposulphite of soda, three tablespoonfuls to a quart of 
water. This may be applied on gauze. A saturated solution of 
one teaspoonful of sulphate of magnesium to a cupful of water 
may be similarly used. 

Needless to say, the general health should be built up, and 
any internal remedy which possesses virtues in this direction 
should be used. 

Above all else, guard against the infection of any wound or 
abrasion of the skin. In this way you will avoid erysipelas. 


FLAT-FOOT, OK PES PLANUS 

(known also as weak foot and fallen arches) 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Consult an orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist. 

2. See that the sufferer has properly fitted shoes. 

3. Have him cultivate a correct attitude in standing 
and walking, holding the feet parallel, with the toes 
pointed forward and throwing the weight of the body 
frequently on the outer side of the feet. 

4. See that he practices, twice daily, tiptoe exercises, as 
outlined in the following chapter. 

5. If these measures fail, the doctor will recommend 
proper orthopedic measures. 


T HERE is an endless list of aches and pains and partial 
disabilities, all caused by what is known as flat-foot, or 
weak foot. 

It is easy to see how anything which interferes with nat¬ 
ural and free use of the feet in walking should give rise to all 
sorts of disagreeable symptoms. Whenever you walk, if your 
foot is thrown out of its natural position, strain is bound to 
be the result. This strain may proclaim itself in pain extend¬ 
ing anywhere from the foot itself through the leg and into the 
back. 

Many a person has believed himself to be suffering from 
rheumatism, or even some sort of kidney or spinal trouble, 
when he is merely paying the penalty of walking on a foot 
which has become too weakened in certain parts of its deli¬ 
cate structure to perform its function properly. 

Flat-foot is a displacement of the bones of the foot which 
receive the weight of the body when standing or walking. As 
a result the arch is depressed. 

239 




240 FLAT-FOOT, OB PES PLANUS 

There are many causes for this condition. Among them 
the most common are improperly fitted shoes, such as shoes 
with excessively high heels, narrow or short shoes, or shoes 
which do not give necessary support to highly arched in¬ 
steps. 

Other causes are improper attitude, particularly turning 
the feet outward in walking, and weakened muscles and liga¬ 
ments due to exhausting illness, poor health, old age, rapid 
growth in a child, overweight, prolonged standing on hard 
floors, corns and bunions, and specific diseases. 

The first measure to take in the treatment of flat-foot is to 
get properly adjusted shoes. These ought to have broad, low 
heels, ample space for the toes, and the inner side of the sole 
and heel about a quarter of an inch thicker than the outer side. 

The next measure is to cultivate a correct attitude in stand¬ 
ing and walking. The sufferer should throw the weight of the 
body frequently upon the outer side of the feet while stand¬ 
ing, and should walk with the feet held parallel and pointed 
forward with the weight on the outer side. 

The third measure is to practice tiptoe exercises twice 
daily. The sufferer stands with the toes pointed inward and 
slowly raises and lowers himself upon the toes, descending 
with the weight on the outer side of the heels. 

If these measures do not give relief, it will be necessary 
to strap the foot with adhesive plaster, or to place it for a 
time in a cast, or to use other mechanical appliances. Your 
doctor will advise you regarding such treatment. 

Even after the condition has been corrected, the person 
who has once suffered from flat-foot must give close attention 
to the selection and fit of his shoes and to the cultivation of a 
proper attitude in standing and walking, if he is to avoid a 
return of the trouble. It will also be a wise precaution for 
him to continue to practice the tiptoe exercise regularly once 
or twice a day. 


GALL-STONES 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

When attacks of indigestion give suspicion of 
gall-stones: 

1. Regulate the diet, avoiding excess of fats, sugar, 
pastry, and other starches. Include vegetables and 
plenty of water, also alkaline mineral waters. 

2. Correct constipation. (See chapter on Constipation, 
Part II.) 

3. Enjoin a simple, regular life with gentle exercise and 
plenty of rest. 

4. Give soda salts, such as phosphate of soda, one table¬ 
spoonful to a glassful of water. 

When acute pain is present: 

1. Send for the doctor. 

2. Assist the sufferer into a tub of water as hot as can 
be borne, or apply a hot-water bottle or a towel wrung 
out of hot water and covered with a dry towel, to 
the right side. 

3. Give as a laxative a tablespoonful of mineral oil or 
olive oil. 


T HE gall-bladder is a hollow sac located under the liver 
and immediately in contact with it. It is in reality a 
part of the liver. It is shaped like a pear, is three or four 
inches long, and stands with the thick part upwards. This sac 
is capable of holding about an ounce and one-half of fluid. 

The contents of the gall-bladder are discharged through a 
duct or canal about two inches long. This is not an open tube, 
but its lining is thrown into folds, making an arrangement not 
unlike a spiral stairway in a tower. This drainage canal joins 
with a similar canal from the liver, forming what is called the 

241 




242 


GALL-STONES 


4 ‘ common bile duct.’ ’ This is the size of a goose-quill, is about 
three inches long, and empties into the intestine. 

The bile accumulates within the gall-bladder. During the 
digestive process the bile flows through the complicated drain¬ 
age system I have described into the intestines, where it has 
a part in digestion. 

One of the normal constituents of bile is cholesterin, a 
white, glistening, fatty, crystalline substance. This is taken 
from the blood in which it is found normally, and the quantity 
extracted depends on certain conditions. For instance, if 
there is marked congestion or inflammation of the gall-bladder 
or its ducts, more cholesterin appears to be absorbed by the 
bile. 

What causes such irritation or inflammation! The most 
common of the direct causes is the presence in the gall-bladder 
of microbes or germs. 

If you know anything about germs, you will see at once 
that a warm, moist place, like the gall-bladder, offers a splen¬ 
did breeding-place for microbes. If they once gain entrance 
here, they multiply rapidly. A number of germs—the bacillus 
of typhoid fever, the diarrhea germ, the pneumonia germ, 
and several others—have been found in the gall-bladder. It 
is not uncommon for persons who have had typhoid fever to 
harbor typhoid germs in the gall-bladder for years after they 
have recovered from the disease. A notable example is 
“Typhoid Mary,” the famous case dealt with by the New 
York City Board of Health. 

Of course there are other things which assist in producing 
conditions favorable to the development of gall-stones. Any¬ 
thing which interferes with the free escape of the bile is one 
of these. Tight corsets and any occupation which requires 
constant stooping will cause stagnation of the flow of bile. 
Neglect of exercise, quiet occupations, and abuse of the stom¬ 
ach are other important factors. Overeating, constipation, 
and lowered vitality must be considered. 

Under this combination of conditions, much more than 
the normal amount of cholesterin is extracted from the blood. 


GALL-STONES 


243 


One of the germs or a group of them in the gall-bladder or 
the spiral canal may act as the nucleus, and upon and around 
this center gradually collect a layer and other layers of the 
cholesterin. Just as any salt in a saturated solution will de¬ 
posit on the neck of the bottle, so the cholesterin deposits and 
continues to do so until a good-sized grain or stone is formed. 

There may he one large stone, several good-sized ones, or 
a myriad of very small ones. They may he like grains of 
sand, or a single stone may he large enough to fill the whole 
gall-bladder. 

Many books have been written about gall-stones. The sub¬ 
ject has attracted the attention of surgeons, laboratory work¬ 
ers, and hundreds of medical men. It has worried many a 
layman. Fortunately, the established facts prove it is a con¬ 
dition which need not keep us awake nights. It can be safely 
dealt with, if necessity demands action; in the majority of 
cases, it can be borne without treatment; and it can be 
avoided by the observance of the rules of simple living. 

We rarely find gall-stones in young people, almost never 
before twenty-five. More than half the cases appear in per¬ 
sons past forty, and usually in women, especially in women 
who have had children. It is stated by some authorities that 
almost all women past sixty have gall-stones. 

I speak of the prevalence of gall-stones, not to alarm you, 
but to reassure you. The condition is very prevalent, as you 
see, but it is rarely troublesome. 

Indigestion is a common and early symptom of gall-stones. 
Chronic dyspepsia, especially with pain in the right side, 
gives warning of the trouble. There may be a feeling of full¬ 
ness and weight in the region of the liver. Faintness, sick¬ 
ness at the stomach, and a catch in the side are other symp¬ 
toms. Gas formation, bloating, belching of food, and distress 
after eating should lead to the suspicion of gall-stones, if the 
symptoms continue for months. 

If the gall-stone remains in the original location, it is un¬ 
likely to cause annoyance. If stooping, a blow in the side, or 
any other cause, moves the stone, it may get caught in the 


244 


GALL-STONES 


canal, or tear the tissues enough to excite trouble. Should 
the damaged tissues become infected, there is serious difficulty 
at once. 

The passage of a stone through the gall-duct or the com¬ 
mon bile duct is likely to cause pain. It may produce what is 
called “ biliary, or gall-stone, colic.” In these cases there are 
violent, cutting, terrific pains, chills, and high fever. Great 
prostration, sweating, and vomiting are other symptoms. The 
side becomes tender and swollen. 

If the stone lodges in the common duct—the canal which 
carries away the fluids of gall-bladder and liver—there may 
be jaundice, and there certainly will be if the stone stays there 
long. The bile cannot escape, it is absorbed by the body, and 
colors the eye and skin. 

The colic may last for hours or for a number of days. It 
all depends on the progress of the stone from the gall-bladder 
to the intestines. Fortunately, the attacks of pain are in 
paroxysms, not continuous. It would be impossible to bear 
the excruciating pain for days at a stretch. 

If the stone lodges in the duct just outside the gall-bladder, 
it will be followed by swelling of the obstructed bladder. This 
organ may become enormously distended, forming a large 
mass. 

When the common duct is obstructed and the victim be¬ 
comes jaundiced, he will have violent itching of the skin. 
There may be little pain, but marked nausea and vomiting. 
The symptoms are sometimes like ague—chills, fever, and 
sweat. 

Not many cases are so bad as to result in complete obstruc¬ 
tion, pus formation, and rupture. Usually the stone moves 
along and the symptoms disappear for months or years, until 
another stone starts along down. 

For the acute pain the doctor will administer sedatives, 
but until he arrives, there is much to do to relieve the suffer¬ 
ing. The patient should be assisted into a tub of water as hot 
as he can bear. This appears to relax the tissues and assist 
the passage of the stone. Hot compresses over the side and 
a hot-water bottle will help a lot. 


GALL-STONES 245 

A laxative, preferably mineral oil or olive oil, will be help¬ 
ful. Alkaline mineral waters are useful. 

The diet should be regulated when attacks of indigestion 
give suspicion of gall-stones. Systematic exercises and regu¬ 
larity of living are indispensable. Soda salts, such as phos¬ 
phate of soda, are advised as of possible value in dissolving 
the stones or in preventing their growth. 

While the only radical “cure” for gall-stones is opera¬ 
tion, it is probable that thousands of persons who have small 
and unoffending ones never have a symptom indicating their 
presence. One authority says that ninety-five per cent of per¬ 
sons who have gall-stones never know it. Even when they 
have been discovered by accident or by reason of thorough 
examination, they need give no concern unless they produce 
symptoms which will be unmistakable. In other words, don’t 
worry about gall-stones any more than you do about freckles, 
a little mole on your face, or a bald spot on the crown of your 
head. If your particular gall-stones are going to be trouble¬ 
some, you will be given due and timely warning. Even then, 
you need not worry greatly, because should an operation be 
determined upon, you have at least ninety-five chances out of 
a hundred of a successful result. 

(See also Constipation; Indigestion; Jaundice .) 


GANGRENE AND BED-SORES 


HOW TO PREVENT BED-SORES 

1. Change the position frequently. 

2. Wash the sensitive parts subjected to pressure, sev¬ 
eral times a day with hot water and a good soap. 
Dry thoroughly and then rub the parts briskly with 
a bath towel. 

3. If bed-sores develop, call the doctor at once. 


T HE desire to live is a spiritual or psychical emotion, I 
suppose, but that it has a physical basis is shown by the 
marvelous vitality of the body tissues. Given half a chance, 
Nature will restore the most badly damaged structures. It 
seems to be the inborn desire of every cell and fiber to live. 

There are a few conditions where parts of the body die. 
Although still attached and in their proper places, they have 
actually become dead and inert matter. 

As a result of terrible scalding, burning, or freezing, or 
from terrific squeezing or crushing, or from certain diseases 
where the blood-vessels have become plugged, the toes, fingers, 
ears, and even the hands or feet may lose all vitality, may 
actually die. 

This condition is called gangrene. 

Fortunately, gangrene is not common. It is essentially a 
disease of old persons. On this account, the ordinary case is 
called senile gangrene. 

The patient complains of coldness and numbness in the 
feet. His circulation is poor, anyhow, but it will be found 
that the flow of blood in the affected part has entirely stopped. 
No pulse can be found, the part gets cold, and pretty soon 
it turns dark purple or, possibly, as black as soot. 

Left to itself, the dead toes or foot will drop off. This 
form is called dry gangrene. 


246 



GANGRENE AND BED-SORES 247 

Of course there are great pain, sleeplessness, and every 
evidence of illness. 

Younger persons who have diabetes may develop moist 
gangrene. In this form the tissues swell and develop great 
blisters, and very soon the flesh begins to decompose. 

Most of us will have no occasion to deal with such cases 
of gangrene as I have described. There is another variety 
which I desire to mention, however, because, knowing about 
it, it may be within your power, sometime, to prevent its 
development. I refer to bed-sores. 

Bed-sores are spots of gangrene which are found on the 
back, hips, or buttocks. They develop in patients who have 
been confined to the bed for a long time. 

The strong and vigorous are in little danger, but old, run¬ 
down, skinny, and feeble persons who have long-drawn-out 
sickness are apt to suffer in this way, unless carefully pro¬ 
tected against gangrene. 

Early attention to bed-ridden patients may spare them 
months of unnecessary hospital care. 

Frequent change of position is demanded in order to take 
pressure off the sensitive places. 

The parts should be washed several times a day with hot 
water and a good soap. Follow the bathing with brisk rub¬ 
bing, using a bath towel, and dry thoroughly. Ordinarily 
these precautions will prevent the development of bed sores. 

Should the sores develop, the diseased parts must be care¬ 
fully treated like any infected wound. 


GOITER 


WHAT TO DO 

1. See that the victim has rest, mental and physical, 
fresh air, sunlight, good food, and freedom from 
worry and excitement. 

2. Apply hot fomentations to the neck for fifteen min¬ 
utes at a time, twice a day. Wring a towel out of 
water as hot as can be borne, pack this over the neck 
with a dry towel over it. As soon as the wet towel 
cools, repeat the process. 

3. Consult a doctor, who will direct the medical treat¬ 
ment to suit the case. 


1Y/T ANY a young life has been ruined because of untimely 
submission to disease. It is bad enough to suffer from 
heart trouble or chronic bronchitis in old age, but the victim 
has the joyful memory, perhaps, of a long life relatively free 
from sickness and pain. 

I have witnessed the affliction of a number of young 
women at the time of life when health and vigor are essen¬ 
tial, not only to their own happiness, but to the welfare of 
their little ones. The time will come in this country, as it 
has in other lands, when the young mother and the pros¬ 
pective mother will be the subjects of greater care than 
they receive to-day. To provide the nation with vigor¬ 
ous children, there must be healthy and vigorous mother¬ 
hood. 

To accomplish this vital thing, it should be unnecessary 
for the State to interfere. When public health education has 
become as far-reaching and as permeating as the education 
given by the schools, there will be knowledge of health mat¬ 
ters in every home. Indeed, if I had my way, education in 

248 



GOITER 249 

health would be made an important and required part of 
every school curriculum. 

Among the ailments which attack young women is a group 
of symptoms called exophthalmic goiter. It is commonly met 
between the ages of sixteen and thirty. Of course, it may 
appear at any time of life and may attack men as well as 
women. In men the condition is apt to be found later—be¬ 
tween the ages of thirty and forty-five. 

Most of the sufferers from exophthalmic goiter are highly 
strung and nervous persons. They come from families easily 
overwrought. 

Sometimes a great shock, overwhelming grief, terrible 
fright, prolonged illness, or overwork may be the underlying 
cause. As a result, the nervous system is thrown out of gear 
and health and prospects are shattered. 

The prominence of the front of the neck is due to the size 
of a large gland called the thyroid gland. In exophthalmic 
goiter this gland is more or less enlarged. Perhaps the first 
symptoms of trouble may be the gradually thickening neck. 

In simple goiters—the ordinary variety of goiter—the 
trouble is limited to the thyroid. All the symptoms are due 
to the enlargement, with its resulting pressure on adjacent 
parts. 

In exophthalmic goiter, among other signs, is a remark¬ 
able prominence of the eyes. The eyes are pushed forward, 
the lids are widely separated, and the patient has what is 
popularly known as 44 pop-eyes.’’ The doctor gives this con¬ 
dition a Greek name, exophthalmos , meaning 44 out” and 
4 4 eye . 9 9 

Other characteristic signs of this disease are great rapid¬ 
ity of the heart, muscular tremblings, localized sweatings, 
and, perhaps, falling of the hair. Loss of weight, digestive 
disturbances, sleeplessness, mental depression, and general 
misery are accompanying symptoms. 

Let me hold out every encouragement regarding the out¬ 
come of these distressing cases. They are curable. I have 
seen aggravated forms of goiter which have disappeared 
under hygienic and medical treatment. 


250 


GOITER 


Your doctor will direct the treatment, and you will find 
that he will make great use of what we may call the “natural 
methods’’■—rest, mental and physical, proper diet, fresh air, 
sunlight, entertainment, and recreation. (See chapter on 
Right Living, Part III.) 

Hot fomentations are useful in reducing goiter. A towel 
wrung out of water as hot as can be borne is packed over the 
neck, and over this is placed a dry towel. When the wet 
towel cools a bit, it should be dipped again in the hot water. 
This process should be continued for a period of fifteen min¬ 
utes twice a day. 

(See also Thyroid Gland and Myxedema.) 


GOUT 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Keep the affected limb elevated and warm. 

2. Apply capsicum vaseline to the painful joint. 

3. Give quantities of hot lemonade. 

4. Overcome constipation. (See chapter on Constipa¬ 
tion, Part II.) 

5. Consult the doctor, who will advise a restricted diet. 


R ICH men, especially English gentlemen, are thought to 
be the usual victims of gout. 

This idea is due to the fact that the disease is associated 
with rich food, overeating, overindulging in sweet wines and 
malt beverages, and especially because the tendency to gout 
is inherited, the same as the title or riches. 

Gout is not a local disease, although its immediate and 
painful effect may be located in the big toe joint, or some 
other small joint. It is really a constitutional disease, due 
probably to an excessive amount of uric acid in the blood. 
These salts are deposited in the joint, and after a while, one 
or another joint will begin to get sore as a result. 

When one of the joints fills up, so to speak, the crystals of 
uric acid act exactly as would any other foreign body. The 
joint gets red and swollen. The effusion may go on to ulcera¬ 
tion, breaking down of tissue, and the trouble may even result 
in discharge from the joints of the offending mass. 

In other cases the deposits continue until the joints are stiff 
and deformed. The main attack may be against the great toe, 
but it may involve all the joints of the ten toes and the 
knuckles of the hands. 

The eyelids, the ears, the arteries, any cartilaginous struc¬ 
tures, may be involved. It is not surprising to learn, then, 

251 




252 GOUT 

that arteriosclerosis is one of the common accompaniments of 
gont. 

The attack of gout comes on after a few days of indisposi¬ 
tion. There has been constipation, intestinal indigestion, acid¬ 
ity of the stomach, headache, vile temper, loss of sleep, and 
general prostration. 

Suddenly, usually in the middle of the night, the acute at¬ 
tack occurs. There is severe pain in the hall of the big toe. 
It gets red, swollen, and feverish. It is so tender the patient 
cannot bear to be touched. 

The victim gives every evidence of illness. He may have 
a chill, but in any event, there are fever, thirst, failure of free 
kidney action, coated tongue, and great pain. 

There is a certain periodicity to the pain. It comes on 
every night and is better through the day. These paroxysms 
continue for from three or four days to a week. 

The disease differs from rheumatism in that the small 
joints only are affected, the fever is not so high, and the local 
pain and tenderness are much greater. Likewise, the periodic 
character of the pain differs from the continuous pain of rheu¬ 
matism. 

No success can be had in the treatment of gout unless the 
patient submits to a radical modification of his diet. Stimu¬ 
lants and meats must be materially reduced. Alkaline and 
lithia waters are indicated, and every attention must be given 
the associated constipation. 

The leg should be raised and kept warm. Hot applica¬ 
tions or capsicum vaseline may promote comfort. Much hot 
lemonade will prove beneficial. 

(See also Constipation; Hardening of the Arteries; Rheu¬ 
matism.) 


GRANULATED EYELIDS, OR TRACHOMA 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Keep the eyes clean and protect them against dust, 
smoke, glare, and strain. 

2. Consult the eye specialist and follow treatment per¬ 
sistently. 


O NE of the diseases we used to dread is becoming rare in 
America. Granulated eyelids is its common name. 
Trachoma and granular conjunctivitis are other names. 

When we were less particular in our quarantine conditions 
than we are now, lots of these cases came to our shores. The 
result was that our immigration ports were filled with the 
disease. Every school-room had its victims. In certain of 
the mountain regions of the South, in sections where sani¬ 
tary conditions were neglected, the disease made rapid and 
serious inroads upon the population. 

Scientists have not succeeded in finding the germ respon¬ 
sible for trachoma. This has made the fight against it more 
difficult. In spite of this, however, a winning war has been 
waged against the dread disease. 

Rigid medical inspection has revealed the disease in its 
early and curable stages. Insistence by health authorities 
upon immediate and systematic treatment of every case and 
education of the public in the danger of trachoma have had 
the natural results. 

Under no circumstances should a parent neglect the symp¬ 
toms of eye inflammation when they are observed in a young 
child. Redness, discharge, sticking together of the eyelids in 
the morning, heaviness, and swelling of the lids—these symp¬ 
toms do not mean trachoma, of necessity, but they demand 
attention and medical care. 

While it has not been found, there is no reasonable doubt 

253 



254 GBANULATED EYELIDS, OB TBACHOMA 

that granulation of the eyelids is due to a germ. If so, it is 
a contagious or infectious disease. This means that the dis¬ 
charges from the infected eye are capable of carrying the 
germs to other persons. Careless use of the toilet articles, 
especially the soap and towels, may permit one of these 
articles to convey the contagion. 

Dirty and contaminated hands readily carry the germs 
of disease. Under no circumstances should you rub, wipe, 
or handle your eyes or eyelids with soiled hands. You are 
perfectly safe in the presence of trachoma and may even 
handle the diseased eyelids, as the doctor does. Your danger 
comes from your own unclean hands. Before you touch any¬ 
thing else, your hands must be washed with soap and water. 

In the treatment of granulated eyelids, all you can do for 
yourself is to keep the eyes clean and to protect them against 
dust, smoke, the glare of strong lights, and strain from over¬ 
use. 

The eye specialist will direct the medical treatment. 
Bear in mind that this condition can be cured, but not by 
half-way methods. You must faithfully carry out for months 
and months exactly what the doctor prescribes. 

In the meantime, so long as you are under treatment, you 
may go to school or about your affairs. You will be a safe 
associate if you master the Golden Buie. So long as you are 
careful to keep your eye discharges from every article other 
persons may touch, you are a safe neighbor. So long as your 
hands are clean and the lids are clean, there is no danger of 
passing the disease to others. 


HABIT SPASMS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Find the cause and correct it. 

2. After the underlying cause has been removed, have 
the victim learn to control the habit by reading aloud 
before a mirror and practicing exercises with phono¬ 
graphic accompaniment. 

3. Do not “nag” the victim by calling attention to the 
habit. 


A NY man, woman, or child who is in any way abnormal is 
* at a decided disadvantage. If this abnormality is evi¬ 
denced by a spasmodic habit of some sort, it is observed by 
everybody and may seriously impair the usefulness of the 
victim. 

It is not uncommon to see a child winking his eyes con¬ 
vulsively every few minutes. He may shrug one shoulder, 
lift his eyebrows, bite his lips, stick out his tongue, or do 
some other conspicuous and annoying thing. The trouble 
may take the form of coughing, grunting, sniffling, licking, 
sucking, twitching, or other similar evidence of a disturbed 
nervous system. 

Any embarrassing symptom like this is called habit spasm, 
tic, or convulsive tic. It begins, perhaps, as a natural at¬ 
tempt to overcome some disagreeable sensation. Through 
frequent repetition it may become habitual. After a while it 
is fairly involuntary and cannot be overcome by effort of 
the will. 

Persons who suffer from habit spasms are apt to be nerv¬ 
ous individuals. They possess what is called the neurotic 
temperament. Sometimes they are of the hysterical type. 
In fairness, however, it must be stated that a good many 
who possess great mental stability suffer from tics, 

255 



256 


HABIT SPASMS 


Worry, shock, mental overwork, eye strain, and other 
forms of reflex irritation may result in a tic of one variety 
or another. Usually, when the affliction is from these causes, 
it is temporary. 

Disease of the gums, teeth, or nose, and tonsillar disease, 
unhealthy condition of the intestinal tract, worms, and skin 
irritations are other factors which must not be overlooked. 

In the treatment of habit spasms good sense is required. 
In the first place, the underlying physical defects must be 
removed. It is easy to say this, but the undertaking is very 
difficult at times because of the difficulty of locating the cause. 
But the importance of removing the causal factor I need not 
emphasize. This is too obvious. 

To break the habit itself is a task. Physical exercises are 
useful. They should be taken before a mirror, so that the 
reflection gives constant reminder of the tic. 

Beading aloud is a good thing for some forms. All the 
time the eyes should be kept as much as possible upon the 
mirror. Close observation of this sort helps to control 
the tic. 

Exercise with phonographic accompaniment is helpful. In 
children the exercise may be made a kind of game. 

Much patience is required, but perseverance wall be re¬ 
warded. It must not be forgotten that the state of the gen¬ 
eral health is of the greatest importance. There is little hope 
of speedy or permanent cure unless any underlying cause for 
ill health is discovered and removed. 

In this connection I wish to emphasize the serious effects 
of intestinal disturbances. There can be no doubt that 
trouble here may be shown by any number of mental and 
nervous symptoms. Among such symptoms habit spasms are 
included. 

(See also Constipation; St. Vitus’s Dance.) 


HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES, OR 
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Consult the doctor. 

2. Have the sufferer take moderate daily exercise. 

3. Regulate the bowels. (See chapter on Constipation, 
Part II.) 

4. Stop tea, coffee, and tobacco, and anything contain¬ 
ing alcohol. 

5. Give a light diet consisting of milk, bread and butter, 
vegetables, fruit, fish, oysters, meat or eggs in small 
amounts, and very little salt and fluids. 


W E think of old age as a condition associated with ad¬ 
vanced years. Seventy-five or eighty is what we have 
in mind when we discuss this subject. 

I once operated on a man for senile cataract who was just 
past thirty. This patient was an old man. 

In the practice of medicine we run across many old men 
and women who have had but forty-five birthdays. It isn’t the 
date set down in the family Bible which determines old age. 
It is the condition of the organs and tissues of the body. 

Whether you are old or not depends largely on the state of 
your heart and blood-vessels. If your pump does its work nor¬ 
mally, and if your blood runs through flexible and healthy 
vessels, you are young. 

If your blood-vessels become thickened and hard, if your 
heart overworks or if it flags in its action, you are old. If 
your blood pressure is much too high or much too low, your 
body will deteriorate. 

It stands to reason that to stay young you must have pure 
blood, free from the taint of disease. You cannot carouse, 
take every chance of infection, and be indifferent to physical 
consequences, without paying the penalty. 

257 




258 


HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES 


But it is not alone sinful neglect of your welfare that re¬ 
sults in conditions fatal to the retention of youth. There are 
other factors almost as important, and yet we merely warn 
against them. We do not preach against them as we do 
against the moral hazards. 

The time will come, I believe, when men and women will 
be ashamed of their physical lapses. Preventable bad health 
will he a reason for ostracism, just as other things are now. 

Overeating, overworking, and overworry are the great 
causes for ill health. They are the great factors in the pro¬ 
duction of old age. Overeating and overdrinking have been 
such factors since the beginning, but overwork and overworry 
are more recent things, so far as universal effects go. The 
stress and strain of present-day existence are responsible for 
early old age. 

Wrong eating and neglect of the body lead to liver, kid¬ 
ney, and intestinal disturbances. These, in turn, result in the 
production of poisons which damage the body. 

Normally the walls of the blood-vessels are soft and elas¬ 
tic. When you place your finger on the pulse at the wrist, 
the normal artery is yielding to the touch. It feels not unlike 
a piece of soft rubber tubing. 

In disease the vessel walls become hardened, stiff, and un¬ 
yielding. Under the fingers they feel like whip-cord. 

The change is not unlike the effect of time upon a plumb¬ 
ing system. The pipes become encrusted and occluded. Their 
capacity is reduced accordingly. Deposits occur on the lining 
membranes of the blood-vessels, and gradually the changes 
described take place. Thus develops arteriosclerosis, or hard¬ 
ening of the arteries. 

These changes in the arteries interfere with the circulation 
of the blood. This, in turn, affects the heart, and ultimately, 
from the blood being confined within lessened capacity for it, 
increase of blood pressure takes place. 

With the hardening of the blood-vessel walls, naturally 
there comes greater brittleness and greater possibility of their 
breaking. To the weakening of the containers, add greater 
pressure of the contents, and it will be seen at once that there 


HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES 259 

is imminent danger of breaks in the wall and escape of the 
blood into the outside tissues. 

In arteriosclerosis this is what happens, so hemorrhages 
into the retina of the eye or into the brain substance are liable 
to take place. 

Arteriosclerosis may be said to be a natural condition in 
advanced life, because it is almost invariably found in old age. 

Besides advanced age, there are a lot of diseases that cause 
arteriosclerosis. Bright’s disease and arteriosclerosis seem 
to be Siamese twins. One is rare without the other, or at 
least high blood pressure and Bright’s disease are boon com¬ 
panions. Lead poisoning, diabetes, gout, rheumatism, ma¬ 
laria, obesity, and syphilis are other causes. Chronic con¬ 
stipation has its effect. 

Arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure are responsible 
for headaches, dizziness, pain in the heart, and many obscure 
nervous disorders. The severe heart attacks known as angina 
pectoris or breast pang are frequently due to this condition. 

If there is hemorrhage or effusion into the brain, there will 
be various forms of paralysis, slight or severe, according to 
the degree and location of bleeding. There may be inability 
to speak or difficulty in moving the limbs. These symptoms 
may disappear in a few hours, or may go on to permanent 
paralysis. The treatment for arteriosclerosis consists in re¬ 
moving the cause, cultivating a cheerful mind, and living a 
regular, temperate life. Moderate exercise in the open air 
should be taken daily. Alcohol, tea, coffee, and tobacco should 
be eliminated. Meats, salt, and fluids should be restricted. 
The bowels should be regulated. (See chapter on Constipa¬ 
tion, Part II.) The diet should be plain and light, including 
milk, bread and butter, vegetables, fruit, fish, oysters, a little 
meat taken once a day, or eggs boiled three minutes. 

When you know that so many diseases result from rapid or 
improper living you should take warning against the excesses 
so fatal to future happiness. Overwork, overworry, overeat¬ 
ing—these are the evils we should escape. 

(See also Breast Pang; Bright's Disease; Constipation; 
Diabetes; Gout; Malaria; Rheumatism .) 


HAY FEVER 


(also known as summer asthma and rose cold) 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Consult the doctor two or three months before the 
attack is due. 

2. During the attack spray the nose with some alkaline 
solution. 

3. Have the sufferer avoid narcotic drugs. 


H AY fever makes its first appearance in early life and 
every summer thereafter reappears to torture its victim. 
Sneezing, smarting, burning, and redness of the eyes, hot 
water running from the nose and eyes, headache, feeling as if 
a million insects were crawling in the nose and throat, cough¬ 
ing, loss of sleep, asthma, fever, and general feeling of illness 
—these are some of the symptoms of hay fever. 

There is a remarkable regularity in the onset of hay fever. 
Old-time sufferers can predict almost to the hour when the at¬ 
tack will appear. “August the twenty-second at one P. M.” 
may be the date fixed and, at precisely that time, on come the 
symptoms. 

It is believed that there is a nervous element in the develop¬ 
ment of this disease. This may account for the appearance of 
the disease at the predicted time. Fear is usually productive 
of ill effects. 

However, there are physical defects underlying the attacks. 
For instance, if the nasal tissues were absolutely normal, it 
is doubtful that hay fever could exist. 

’As a matter of fact, careful examination of the nose of the 
hay fever patient reveals a number of sensitive spots in the 
mucous lining of the nasal cavities. 

Then there appears to be necessary a third element, some 
260 



HAY FEVER 


261 


external irritating substance. It is commonly believed that 
the pollen of certain plants—rag-weed, goldenrod, roses, and 
some of the grasses—is the exciting factor. 

Modern medicine looks upon hay fever, hives, and various 
skin eruptions as bearing some relation to food or intestinal 
poisoning. Therefore the general health and powers of re¬ 
sistance are possible factors in the development of hay fever. 

Change of climate is the most satisfactory means of im¬ 
mediate relief. Northern Michigan, Maine, Canada, and a 
dozen other geographical points are recommended. A sea 
voyage, away from the dust and pollen, may ward off the 
attack. 

Treatment of the nasal condition, if begun several months 
before the expected attack, may greatly modify the symptoms. 
The irritable points are cauterized and the tissues hardened 
by treatment. 

During the attack various sprays may benefit. Witch- 
hazel and various alkaline solutions will prove helpful. 

Cocaine and narcotic drugs should be avoided. 

(See also Asthma; Coryza.) 


HEADACHES, CAUSES AND KINDS OF 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Find the cause and correct it. 

2. For treatment of the attack, see chapter on Head, 
Pain in the, Part I. 


E NTHRONED in its bony temple, the skull, the brain pre¬ 
sides over the nervous system. Through the many 
branches of this system every part of the body is reached and 
controlled. Exactly as a train dispatcher sits in his office, 
directing all the traffic movements of a great railroad, so the 
brain is the administrator of the complicated nerve lines run¬ 
ning from scalp to toe, from heart to finger-tips. 

Not only is the brain sheltered by the skull, but it has also, 
for protection against jolt or jar, its coverings, called 
meninges. The brain and meninges are richly supplied with 
blood-vessels and, in normal conditions, life runs on with no 
consciousness on our part of the activities of this, our most 
important organ. 

Of headaches there are many varieties and many causes. 
The first of which mention will be made is the congestive head¬ 
ache. 

When your head feels swollen and the pains are of a throb¬ 
bing or bursting nature you have a congestive headache. Your 
face may be red. Your eyes may be congested. Every step or 
jar hurts your head. Bright light and noises increase the 
agony and life seems not worth living. 

Usually this headache indicates nothing more than some 
irregularity of habits, overexposure to the sun, or indiscre¬ 
tions in eating and drinking. Full-blooded persons, or those 
having high blood pressure, and women with their complex 
nervous systems, are most frequently affected. 

262 



CAUSES AND KINDS OF HEADACHES 263 


Nervous headaches, so-called, are the headaches resulting 
from mental fatigue, worry, loss of sleep, or overexcitement. 

Any one of these forms of headache may be periodical, 
coming on every Sunday, once a month, or at other regular 
intervals. 

There is another kind of headache called sick headache. 
This is accompanied with nausea and perhaps with vomiting. 
The symptoms may be so severe that to get the slightest re¬ 
lief the patient must go to bed in a dark room. The sick head¬ 
ache may take the form of a migraine—a one-sided—head¬ 
ache. This may be so pronounced as to affect exactly one-half 
of the head. 

Sometimes this disturbance may be a “blind headache,” 
partial loss of vision being one of the symptoms. It is not un¬ 
usual to have blindness for everything to the right or to the 
left, as the case may be, together with sickness at the stomach. 

Or there may be a “blind spot.” On looking at a watch or 
clock, one or two of the numerals will be blank. The blindness 
may spread until the vision at one side disappears. In an 
hour the vision has returned, but there is a dazzling alterna¬ 
tion of black and white flashes. In another hour, or less, all 
the eye symptoms have gone, but there is a disagreeable, dull 
aching in the head and probably some degree of nausea. 

All these varying forms of headache and associated symp¬ 
toms may be described as sick headache. It is not uncommon 
to hear them spoken of as “nervous headache,” or “bilious 
headache. ’ ’ 

These attacks, no matter what form they take, may come 
on at regular times—once a week, or in women, once a month. 
With other persons, there may be no periodicity about the 
headaches or eye symptoms. 

It is my opinion that two chief causes are responsible for 
these symptoms. Continued worry and fatigue, bodily or 
mental, come first. Then some toxic condition furnishes the 
poison essential to the production of the nervous disturbances. 

The nervous system is too delicate to withstand the as¬ 
saults of bodily poisons. If elimination by the skin, kidneys, 
or intestines is interfered with, it needs nothing more than the 


264 CAUSES AND KINDS OF HEADACHES 

lowered resistance due to a few days of worry, to finish the 
job. 

Regular exercise, sufficient to produce honest sweat every 
day of the year, is the first consideration in treatment. Add 
to this a daily general bath, and the skin will do its work. 

Drink plenty of water to flush the kidneys and, by occa¬ 
sional examination of the urine, make sure that they are func¬ 
tioning as they should. 

Eat simply and add to your diet those articles of food that 
will insure proper bowel action. Relieve the constipation, if it 
cannot be prevented. 

Cultivate a calm and placid mind. 

These are the secrets of the prevention and cure of mi¬ 
graine. 

If careful regulation of the diet, regularity of habits, and 
the correction of any indiscretions do not cause your head¬ 
aches to disappear, you should make a visit to your doctor. 

Probably the most common cause of headaches is auto-in¬ 
toxication, or self-poisoning by waste products that are ab¬ 
sorbed instead of being properly thrown off by the body. 
This is a condition met with so frequently that we are prone 
to overlook its importance. 

Countless numbers of sufferers from headache have found 
temporary relief from salts or cathartics, or have resorted to 
one of the many “headache tablets’’ or “headache wafers.” 
Some even have sought relief in opium and morphine. 

Let me sound a solemn note of warning against all such 
practices. Drugs or medicines should never be taken without 
the advice of a physician. The repeated and continued em¬ 
ployment of any drug results in addiction to its use. 

An addict is a slave, and when once a person yields to the 
clutch of a habit, he is on his way to serious ill health requiring 
long and arduous treatment. 

The brain demands regular sleep, regular meals, regular 
exercise, regular practices of every sort. Systematic atten¬ 
tion to all functions will speedily find the underlying cause of 
headache and restore the sufferer to normal life. 

No one cause is more prolific of headache than eye strain. 


CAUSES AND KINDS OF HEADACHES 265 

When one passes forty-five or fifty he should visit the oculist 
once a year or, at least, once in two years. Simply because 
one can see to read does not prove that there is perfect vision. 
The effort may be an unconscious one, hut any effort to see 
clearly means a drain of nerve energy. No matter how small 
the leak, the great reservoir of energy, the brain, will he called 
upon ultimately, and then will come trouble. 

Headaches due to anemia from excessive, prolonged over¬ 
work or general ill health are not uncommon. Fainting is a 
common accompaniment. 

The type of headaches called reflex headaches may come 
from ovarian or uterine disease. In these headaches the pain 
is apt to be on top of the head. 

The headache noticed on waking up in the morning, es¬ 
pecially when it is at the base of the nose, may be due to nasal 
catarrh. 

Bright’s disease, diabetes, gout, excessive use of alcohol or 
tobacco, and neurasthenia are other conditions resulting in 
headache. 

The hones of the face are hollow. Under the cheek-bone is 
a hollow space called the antrum. In the bone over the inner 
part of the eyebrow and at the root of the nose is a cavity 
called the frontal sinus. There are other cavities in the honey¬ 
combed bones of this region. 

All these cavities or sinuses, as they are called, open into 
the nose. When there is a cold in the head, the inflammation 
may creep up the passageways into these sinuses and produce 
trouble here exactly like the trouble in the nose itself. 

Trouble in the antrum may show itself by aching which ap¬ 
pears to involve the adjacent teeth. 

The remarkable thing about the pain in sinusitis is that it 
possesses a certain degree of periodicity. It comes on along 
about noon or earlier and disappears at sundown. It differs 
from the constant pain of an ulcerated or otherwise inflamed 
eye. 

Headache is a danger signal. Do not disregard the red 
light. Stop at once and find out what is wrong. 

(See also Constipation; Head, Pain in the.) 


HIVES AND OTHER SKIN TROUBLES DUE TO FOOD 
AND DRUG POISONING 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Determine by proper tests the food which causes the 
poison and eliminate it from the diet. 

2. To relieve the itching, have the sufferer bathe in 
water in which hyposulphite of soda has been dis¬ 
solved in the proportion of a cupful to three quarts 
of water. 


rilHERE are two kinds of hives. The more common kind 
is known to the doctors as urticaria, or nettle-rash. In 
this there are swellings of the skin and terrible itching. 

There is another variety, commonly called giant hives and 
given a great big name by the doctors—angioneurotic edema. 
In this form there may be but one large and very hard swell¬ 
ing. 

It is probable that the chief cause of hives is some kind of 
food poisoning. The trouble may be due to the decomposition 
of the waste material within the body and the effect of the 
toxins or poisons which are sure to develop in putrid masses. 

The condition may be caused by eating certain foods 
which are poisonous to some individuals. You know how 
poison ivy acts. It is harmless to some and so poisonous to 
others that to be in the vicinity of the plant is dangerous. 
The same thing applies to foods. A food which is wholesome 
and nourishing to nine hundred and ninety-nine persons, may 
be poison to the thousandth. 

There are certain well-known offenders in the food list. 
Among these are shell-fish and strawberries. But there are 
many others which are capable of causing real illness to 
susceptible individuals. This is but a partial list: Eggs, 

266 



HIVES AND OTHER SKIN TROUBLES 267 


cream, pork, canned meat, salted fish, mushrooms, tomatoes, 
pickles, and so forth. 

Some food specialists have a system of rubbing into the 
skin of the arm extracts of many different food substances, 
until they discover the particular one which is capable of 
producing disagreeable reaction. 

If you have hives, you must experiment carefully. Omit 
from your diet one single article of the things you usually eat. 
Continue this omission until you get another attack. You 
will know then that it is not that particular food which is the 
exciting cause. Then decide on another food to be excluded 
in the same way. By patient effort you will hit upon the 
offender. 

Of course, there are other sources of toxic substances. The 
kidneys, the intestines, abscessed teeth and tonsils, and any 
other similar disturbances may have hives as a symptom. 

You cannot cure hives by any local application. You may 
relieve the itching and burning, but until you find and remove 
the cause, there will be repeated attacks. 

For the relief of the local disturbance, try hyposulphite 
of soda, a cupful to three quarts of water. Get into a tub of 
water impregnated with a pound of the hyposulphite. It will 
stop the itching quicker than any other substance of which I 
know. 

In the treatment of the skin symptoms due to food poison¬ 
ing, it is important to empty the stomach and bowels. Warm 
salt or soda solution will cause vomiting. Salts or some other 
laxative will clear the intestinal tract. A rectal injection will 
be useful. 

The patient should be put on a restricted diet for a few 
days. Lots of water, vichy, and milk should be taken. 

There are also disturbances of the skin following the 
taking of certain drugs. 

Almost always a suddenly acquired blemish of the skin is 
a danger signal. Just as the red light on the railroad gives 
warning, so does the red eruption of the skin. It means some¬ 
thing. Certainly, when a given drug causes a skin reaction, 
this should warn you that the drug does not agree with your 


268 HIVES AND OTHER SKIN TROUBLES 


system. No matter how useful it is for others, and how much 
you need the usual effects of the drug, there is something 
about your heart or kidneys that interferes with proper elimi¬ 
nation. 

Even though occasional doses of the particular drug, or 
repeated doses, have been taken without disturbance, there 
may be a sudden breaking-out of the skin. This is because 
the body cares for a reasonable quantity, but, if too much is 
taken, it is stored up in the system, accumulating quantities 
which ultimately will produce the skin effects. 

It is not always easy to determine, either that the trouble 
is due to a drug or, if to a drug, what particular drug is at 
fault. The history of the case may determine it, but in some 
cases careful study, including testing the urine, may be nec¬ 
essary. 

Some of the drugs capable of causing skin eruptions are 
the following: 

A rash resembling measles may be produced by antipyrin, 
cubebs, opium, morphine, and sulphonal. 

An appearance like scarlet fever may follow the use of 
belladonna, chloral, digitalin, iodoform, mercury, midol, qui¬ 
nine, and salvarsan. 

Some of these same drugs may cause hive-like eruptions of 
the skin. 

Erysipelas-like conditions occasionally follow the taking 
of aconite, bromides, and iodide of potash. 

Pigmentation of the skin may be produced by arsenic and 
silver nitrate. 

All these disturbances are likely to be transient and quickly 
disappear after the drug is discontinued. When caused by the 
juice of a plant, like poison ivy, there may be itching and pain 
for several days. 

It is well to give heed to all skin disturbances, and should 
you develop an eruption during the time you are taking medi¬ 
cine, call the attention of your doctor to the circumstances. 
He will advise you what to do. 

(See also Eczema; Poisoning, Food.) 


HYPOCHONDRIASIS, OR “IMAGINITIS” 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Take the sufferer to a doctor who can inspire confb 
dence. 

2. Divert his thoughts by any means—common sense 
talks, occupation, or amusement. 

3. Do not be either oversympathetic, or harsh in judg¬ 
ment. 


TF it were not for the imagination, the business of the doctor 
* would he materially lessened. Perhaps I am overdrawing 
it a little, but I believe that just about fifty per cent of the 
patients who go to doctors have no real disease. They think 
they have, or, I sometimes think, they hope they have. 

These persons, however, are just as much patients, after 
all, as those who have cancer, ulcer of the stomach, or typhoid 
fever. They have sickness of the mind. 

With the greatest detail they recite their symptoms. 
Usually some well-known disease is described. It may be 
Bright’s disease, or appendicitis, or some involvement of the 
heart. 

Dr. Osier tells a funny story about a well-known doctor 
who described his condition in detail to a fellow surgeon. The 
surgeon was convinced the doctor had appendicitis and pro¬ 
ceeded to remove a perfectly normal organ. 

The part of the body in which we find the liver and 
stomach is called the hypochondrium. Since imaginary dis¬ 
eases are usually centered on these organs, all such condi¬ 
tions are grouped under the name hypochondriasis. The 
victim of “imaginitis” is known as a hypochondriac. 

It isn’t a good thing to think too much about yourself. 
You get an idea you have stomach disease or some other 
serious ailment. You brood over your trouble. You consult 

269 




270 HYPOCHONDRIASIS, OR “IMAGINITIS” 


doctors about it. You compare notes with other imaginative 
souls. Pretty soon you have become neurotic. 

It is very easy for dyspeptics to get hypochondriacal. 
They are miserable, anyhow. They have heartburn, head¬ 
ache, backache, bad taste in the mouth, belching of gas, bloat¬ 
ing, tenderness to the touch, and a string of other symptoms. 
These are easily woven into a story capable of deceiving an 
experienced doctor. 

Women are accused of having more active imaginations 
than men, but, strange to say, more men have hypochondriasis 
than women. Young people have so many distractions that 
they forget themselves, so this condition is rarely met before 
middle life. 

While the symptoms are overstated, given undue import¬ 
ance, and made the basis for false conclusions, yet it must be 
conceded that there is usually a physical basis for them. The 
patient is overworked or he is worrying. He has eye strain. 
He is unhappy in his work or his surroundings. He is under¬ 
fed or overfed. He is ignorant of, or is neglecting, the simple 
rules of hygiene. Bad air, excessive use of tobacco or coffee, 
lack of exercise, neglect of recreation, are charged against 
him. Excesses of every sort and lack of adjustment generally 
are responsible for complaining nerves. Then, when the 
imagination focuses all his troubles on one organ, the self- 
deluded but genuinely unhappy mortal becomes a hypochon¬ 
driac. 

It is not easy to overcome this conviction. I used to have 
a patient who came to my office at least once a month in order 
that I might read to him the symptoms of hypochondriasis. 
He always went away convinced and “cured,” but the cure 
wouldn’t stick longer than thirty days. 

My advice is to select a doctor, confide in him, and im¬ 
plicitly trust nis conclusions regarding your health. Train 
yourself to accept as gospel what he tells you. 


INFLUENZA 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. At the first suggestion of the attack, treat as you 
would treat a cold or chill. (See chapter on Chills 
and Colds, Part I.) 

2. Send for the doctor at once. If neglected, influenza 
may lead to pneumonia. 

3. Take precautions against the sufferer communicating 
the disease to others. 


T T won’t be long before there will be some form of vaccina- 
* tion, or other means of protection, against influenza and 
the common cold. At this moment, while we seem to be at the 
very threshold of such a discovery, we cannot say we have 
crossed it. 

We think of small-pox, diphtheria, typhoid fever and other 
diseases which terrorize the community as among the great 
dangers to mankind. As a matter of fact, these dreaded dis¬ 
eases are of little consequence when compared with the com¬ 
mon cold and the ailments which are traced to it. 

When influenza, the big brother, is included with the cold, 
we have a combination more powerful in the production of 
illness than any other in human experience. Then, to make 
this family more deadly, we have pneumonia hanging around, 
ready to accept even the hint of an invitation to join either of 
the brothers. 

Influenza is different from a common cold. It is due, we 
assume, to a specific germ, capable of setting up in the body a 
definite chain of symptoms. While influenza begins like the 
ordinary cold, it ends up with a much more severe disturb¬ 
ance, upon which may be grafted pneumonia. 

The trouble with most persons is that they do not consider 
it worth while to stay home and nurse an ailment which may 

271 




272 


INFLUENZA 


prove to be a simple cold. The fact is, however, that we are 
foolish to neglect the early symptoms of what may be a 
serious, and possibly even a fatal, disease. 

Bear in mind all the time that the nasal and mouth secre¬ 
tions of a person having a cold or influenza are filled with 
germs. These are capable of producing the same disease in 
another who comes in contact with these infected secretions. 

The secret of avoiding influenza may be told in two sen¬ 
tences : 

Maintain your powers of resistance by living a normal and 
hygienic life. 

Avoid contact with the secretions of a diseased person. 

Sneezing, coughing, loud talking, spitting, careless nose¬ 
blowing—by these means the germs of disease are widely scat¬ 
tered. If you come within range of the germ-infested mois¬ 
ture, you are in danger of infection. Eating utensils, toilet 
articles, and soiled hands are capable of carrying the infection. 

You should never sit down to eat a meal without washing 
your hands with soap and water. You should never take food 
from dishes which have not been washed in hot water and 
soap. 

Before kissing your family, wash your face with soap and 
water. When you return home from work, wash out the outer 
part of your nostrils and clean your teeth and finger-nails. 
Then you are ready to associate with your dear ones. 

Consult your doctor if you do not feel well. But try to feel 
well all the time by getting lots of fresh air and sunlight. 
Sleep in a well-ventilated room. Eat simple, wholesome food. 
Exercise. Give yourself recreation and entertainment. 

(See also Catarrh, Nasal; Chills and Colds; Cold, Why We 
Should Not Neglect a Common; Coryza; Pleurisy; Pneu¬ 
monia.) 


INSOMNIA 


WHAT TO DO 

1. If constipated, correct the condition. (See chapter 
on Constipation, Part II.) 

2. Give a glass of hot milk and a cracker just before 
retiring. 

3. Open the window, put out all lights, let the sufferer 
have no more covering than is essential, and com¬ 
pose himself to sleep, not to think. 

4. If restless, he should turn on the light and read for 
a while. 

5. If the insomnia persists, look for the cause in eye 
strain, over fatigue, undue anxiety, faulty habits, or 
condition of health. 

6. Consult the doctor as to the cause and its remedy. 


I T is common to hear somebody speak of a restless night due 
to some indiscretion in diet. One of the chief offenders 
against nocturnal rest is coffee, taken late. 

The moderate use of coffee, like the moderate use of a lot 
of other things, is perfectly safe. It is the abuse of coffee 
and its use at the wrong time about which we must complain. 
If I drink strong coffee late at night, I cannot sleep, because 
my sense of hearing has been stimulated. Actually, my hear¬ 
ing becomes so acute it seems to me that I could hear a leaf 
strike the next house. Every sound is exaggerated, and I 
am kept awake by the very din. 

Tickling in the throat, coughing, pain in the chest, and diffi¬ 
cult breathing are natural causes for sleeplessness. Any con¬ 
dition where these symptoms are present must be expected to 
break the rest. 

Sleeplessness is complained of sometimes where it does not 
really exist in any abnormal sense. One cannot expect to 
sleep till seven in the morning if he goes to bed at nine o’clock. 

273 




274 


INSOMNIA 


Children can sleep indefinitely, but the average adult can get 
along very well with seven or eight hours of sleep. Indeed, 
many adults are perfectly well and happy if they have six 
hours. Therefore, why should you expect to sleep soundly 
till seven if you go to bed ten hours before that! We must 
be reasonable, even when we find fault with unprotesting 
Nature. 

Excessive smoking, reading too late, working too many 
hours, worry and mental strain of every sort are factors of 
importance in dealing with insomnia. They may be at the 
foundation of the failure to sleep. 

One of the most frequent and, for some reason, one of the 
most commonly overlooked causes for sleeplessness, is con¬ 
stipation. The first questions I ask of a patient who speaks of 
insomnia relate to the intestinal condition and to the eating 
habits. Intestinal absorption may be productive of nervous 
reactions which disturb sleep. 

One reason why many people sleep poorly is because they 
go to bed to think, to read, to smoke, to sew, to do everything 
except to sleep. If you form the habit of going to bed for no 
other purpose than to get a night’s sleep, it will help a lot. 
Open the window, put out all the lights, have no more cover¬ 
ing than is essential to the temperature, and compose your¬ 
self to sleep. 

If you are restless and fussy, finding that you simply can¬ 
not sleep, do not tear your bed to pieces, but turn on the light 
and read for a while. 

Sometimes a glass of hot milk, a cracker or two—any light 
lunch—will aid your sleep. Heavy suppers just before bed¬ 
time are bad things, and the dyspepsia they cause and aggra¬ 
vate will increase the insomnia. 

There can be no better prescription for the sleepless than 
daily indulgence in physical labor. If you are tired with the 
honest-to-goodness, well earned, and legitimate tiredness 
which comes from manual labor, then you can sleep. You 
won’t ask for over-stuffed mattresses or a downy couch. 
You will find that any place upon which to stretch your 
weary frame is a good spot to sleep. 


INSOMNIA 


275 


It is a pity that many, many persons neglect the privilege 
of physical work. They hold aloof from it, either from pride 
or from sheer laziness. They are fatigued because of late 
hours and continual loss of sleep. They are poisoned from 
bad air or from overeating, or both. But they are never 
tired, really, genuinely tired, from the play of muscles, from 
long miles walked, or from actual manual labor. 

If you cannot sleep, make a survey of your life and see if 
it is not because of the lack of muscular effort. To take strain 
off the kidneys, the skin must work unceasingly. To keep the 
blood pure, the tissues clean, and the brain clear, there must 
be physical exercise. Without it, the waste products of the 
body are not carried away as they should be. 

If you are not sleeping w r ell, if your bed seems hard and 
lumpy and uncomfortable, if you get up more tired than when 
you went to bed, try a stiff dose of hard work. 

Bear in mind that hard work makes a soft bed! 

If there is uncorrected eye strain, overfatigue from any 
cause, or undue anxiety, there can be no hope of happy nights 
without correction. 

Seek the cause of your particular case, and if you do not 
discover it, talk with your doctor. 


ITCHING, OR PRURITUS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Mop the itching parts with a solution of three table¬ 
spoonfuls of hyposulphite of soda to a quart of water. 
If this drug is not at hand, use baking soda in the 
same proportion. 

2. Apply oxide of zinc ointment, or other protective 
salve. 

3. Correct constipation if present. (See chapter on Con¬ 
stipation, Part II.) 

4. Build up the general health. 

5. If the symptoms continue, consult your doctor. 

6. Have the urine examined. 


rpHERE is a disagreeable disease known as the itch. This 
1 is due to the invasion of the skin by a minute insect. 
Itching of the skin is the most aggravating symptom. 

But there are other conditions, entirely different in origin, 
in which itching, smarting, and burning are characteristic. 

The name given this symptom is pruritus. It cannot be 
said to be a disease. It is merely the sign of some disorder 
of the system. 

Many cases of pruritus have intense itching without visible 
change in the surface of the skin. Sometimes there is a slight 
redness. 

It is remarkable how many disorders of the body can be 
traced to the nervous system. If the nerve force is exhausted 
by overwork, worry, loss of sleep, or any emotional experi¬ 
ence, the first evidence of Nature’s protest may be violent itch¬ 
ing of the skin. 

The skin may be poisoned and irritated by the absorption 
of bodily poisons or secretions. For instance, in jaundice 
there is absorption of bile which should escape in a normal 

276 



277 


ITCHING, OR PRURITUS 

way. Its first effect, after coloring the skin a brilliant yellow, 
is to cause the skin to itch and burn. The symptom drives the 
victim nearly crazy. Diabetes also causes violent pruritus. 

In pregnancy and during the change of life, pruritus is a 
common experience. 

Stomach and intestinal disturbances, no matter what the 
cause, may produce itching of the skin. Constipation is the 
most common factor at the foundation of this unhappy trouble. 
Worms are a frequent cause of this trouble in children. Mid¬ 
winter pruritus is met frequently. Heavy woolen underwear, 
plus buckwheat cakes and pork gravy, will give most anybody 
severe itching of the skin. 

In the treatment of pruritus, as in the treatment of every 
other condition, you must hunt for the cause and remove it. 

This may be some article of food—pickles, strawberries, 
shell-fish, fried foods, meat, coffee, and so forth. Careful 
search will find it. 

Excessive scrubbing of the skin and the use of certain 
brands of strong soap may produce pruritus. 

Give up wool and use some other material for the under¬ 
wear. 

Locally, great relief may be had by applying alkaline solu¬ 
tions to the skin. Baking soda—a tablespoonful to an ounce of 
water—will help. 

One of the most useful applications is hyposulphite of soda 
—three tablespoonfuls to a quart of water. This will give al¬ 
most immediate relief for itching of the skin. Zinc oxide or 
tar ointments are useful. Any protective salve will help most 
cases. 

In a persistent and annoying case the family doctor should 
be consulted. 

Correct constipation. Have the urine examined to make 
sure that the kidneys are all right. Build up the general 
health. 

(See also Constipation .) 


JAUNDICE 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Regulate the diet, omitting fats, pastries, highly sea¬ 
soned food, and sweets. 

2. Give buttermilk, skimmed milk, Vichy and Saratoga 
waters, alkaline waters, and lemonade. 

3. Keep the bowels open by the use of saline waters and 
rectal injections of cool water to which a little bicar¬ 
bonate of soda is added. 

4. For the itching of the skin, apply freely a solution of 
hyposulphite of soda, in the proportion of three table¬ 
spoonfuls to a quart of water. 


rpHERE are many causes productive of the symptoms of 
** indigestion. Not all of these appertain to the stomach 
itself. The liver and gall-bladder, if interfered with in their 
normal functions, may excite trouble with the digestion. 

The bile, which comes from these organs, is essential to 
the digestion of fat. If this fluid does not flow as it should, 
there will be delayed absorption of the fatty foods. Intestinal 
action is stimulated by the bile. If the supply is greatly re¬ 
duced, the bowel fails in function, and putrefaction of the in¬ 
testinal contents follows. The absence of bile causes the stools 
to be white, pasty, and very offensive. 

When the flow of bile is reduced, there quickly develop 
symptoms of indigestion. Gas formation and bloating are 
early symptoms. Constipation is common. 

Under certain conditions there are obstruction and inter¬ 
ference with the escape of the bile. Then jaundice results. 

Jaundice is not a disease. It is merely a symptom of vari¬ 
ous conditions which prevent the free escape of the bile from 
the liver and gall-bladder. 

If this obstruction, whatever may be the cause, continues 

278 



JAUNDICE 


279 


for a few days, there will be discoloration of the skin and of 
the whites of the eyes. The normal complexion and color are 
changed, becoming yellow or greenish-yellow. 

Pretty soon the skin becomes discolored. Then it itches 
terribly. There may be black spots from hemorrhage under 
the skin. The urine, too, is colored yellow. 

Jaundice may be due to a catarrhal inflammation of the 
bile duct. Exposure to cold may cause this. Certain diseases, 
too, like malaria, Bright’s disease, pneumonia, and typhoid 
fever may produce catarrhal jaundice. 

There is also a form of jaundice known as epidemic jaun¬ 
dice. It is a condition like the ordinary catarrhal jaundice, 
but due to an infection carried by rats. 

In the treatment of jaundice first consideration is given the 
diet. Fats are not well digested without the bile, so fat should 
be omitted from the dietary. Pastries, all fats, highly sea¬ 
soned food, and sweets should be avoided. 

Buttermilk, skimmed milk, Vichy and Saratoga waters, and 
lemonade are useful. Lots of water, internally and exter¬ 
nally, is well indicated. 

The bowels should be kept open by the use of saline waters 
or mineral oil. All alkaline waters are valuable. 

Rectal injections of cool water to which bicarbonate of soda 
is added will prove helpful. 

There are various local applications which will help to re¬ 
lieve the itching of the skin. Hyposulphite of soda, three 
tablespoonfuls to a quart of water, will add to the comfort. 
This is applied to the itching parts. It may be used freely. 

There is a form of jaundice met with in new-born babies. 
It is observed on the second or third day after birth and lasts 
two or three weeks. It has been suggested that chloroform 
used for the mother may cause this trouble. 

Jaundice is not one of the serious experiences of life. Un¬ 
less the obstruction is due to a growth, the trouble will quickly 
disappear. 


LEUCORRHEA, OR WHITES 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Consult the doctor to find the cause and correct the 
cause. 

2. Build up the general health by a good, nourishing 
diet, daily exercise in the open air, plenty of sleep, 
and a well-regulated life. 

3. To relieve the symptom, give a daily sitz bath with 
a cherry-red solution of permanganate of potash, or 
one tablespoonful of salt and one of bicarbonate of 
soda to one quart of tepid water that has been ster¬ 
ilized by boiling. (See chapter on Menstruation, 
Difficult, Part I.) 


A GREAT number of women and girls write to me asking 
*** what they can do to cure leucorrhea. 

This is a discharge, usually whitish or yellowish in color, 
which appears at the vaginal outlet. It indicates a condition 
commonly known as the 4 ‘whites.’’ 

There is a popular belief that the discharge causes great 
weakness and various constitutional disturbances. But, as 
a matter of fact, this is putting the cart before the horse. 
When leucorrhea exists, it is usually associated with such 
disorders and general debility. However, it is the disturb¬ 
ance which exists first and causes the leucorrhea, and not the 
leucorrhea that causes the general disturbance of health. 

When once we understand that leucorrhea is not a disease, 
but a symptom of some unhealthy condition, it becomes plain 
that the only cure for this symptom is to overcome the cause 
of it. 

It is most commonly due to a slight catarrhal inflamma¬ 
tion of the small glands in the neck of the womb or in other 
adjacent parts. While, of itself, this is not at all serious and 

280 



281 


LEUCORRHEA, OR WHITES 

has no particular influence on the general health, it should 
never he neglected, because it may in time lead to grave local 
disease. 

Among the general disorders which frequently cause this 
trouble are debility, anemia, malaria, tuberculosis, and acute 
diseases, such as diphtheria, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and 
so forth. Emotional excitement sometimes causes this .type 
of leucorrhea. One of the most prolific causes of all the dis¬ 
turbances in the pelvic organs of women—leucorrhea in¬ 
cluded—is chronic constipation. 

The first thing to do, if you are troubled by leucorrhea, is 
to have a talk with your family doctor. He will help you to 
find the cause of the disagreeable symptom, and when this is 
known, the treatment will suggest itself. 

To relieve the discharge, the best treatment is the use of 
a daily sitz bath. (See chapter on Menstruation, Painful, 
Part I.) A douche is sometimes necessary, but this should 
never be taken without advice of a physician. 

One tablespoonful of salt and one of bicarbonate of soda 
to one quart of tepid water, which has been sterilized by boil¬ 
ing, make a satisfactory bath. Or a cherry-red solution of 
permanganate of potash may be used. In either case, the 
bath is merely cleansing and never curative. 

In this condition, it is of first importance to build up the 
general health with a good, nourishing diet, to exercise daily 
in the open air, to get plenty of rest, to correct constipation, 
if it is present, and to lead a simple, well-regulated life. Your 
doctor will prescribe any medication that may be needed. 

There are other forms of leucorrhea which are more seri¬ 
ous than the simple disturbance of which so many women 
complain. These are directly dependent upon some local dis¬ 
ease and are benefited only by the treatment of the disease. 
They are, however, usually accompanied by other symptoms 
besides the discharge. At the appearance of leucorrhea from 
any cause the doctor should be consulted at once. The ordi¬ 
nary form, however, need cause no alarm. 

(See also Anemia; Constipation; Menstruation, Difficult; 
Right Living .) 


MALARIA 


WHAT TO DO 
To avoid an attack: 

i. Destroy mosquitoes and their breeding places. 

To treat the attack: 

i. Consult the doctor, who will prescribe quinine in 
proper doses and other treatment. 


W E must not regard the mosquito merely as a nuisance. 

Under certain conditions it becomes a serious menace 
to health. 

Fortunately, not all mosquitoes are to be dreaded as pos¬ 
sible carriers of disease. There is one particular variety 
which is responsible for the carrying of the germs of malaria. 
This is called the Anopheles. 

You can recognize the malaria mosquito by the way it 
carries its body on alighting. The ordinary harmless pest 
rests with its body parallel to the surface. The Anopheles 
rests with the body at right angles to the surface—as if it 
stuck its hips into the air. 

The Anopheles is a night traveler. It rarely goes out in 
day. Like other sinners, it prefers the night hours for its 
revels. 

It is probable that you regard the mosquito as a summer 
pest. You may be surprised to learn that under proper condi¬ 
tions it thrives through the winter, too. It breeds in hidden 
pools or basins of water in engine rooms and similar places 
throughout the year. While I was Commissioner of Health 
in New York City it was our experience that the wet and 
warm basements of dwellings and apartment houses were 
breeding places of mosquitoes. Even in the middle of winter, 
during the coldest weather, these insects would hatch out and 
fly through the buildings to annoy the human inmates. 

282 



MALARIA 283 

Mosquitoes, however, do not become infected unless they 
have a malarially infected person to begin with. 

The mosquito sticks his bill into the skin of a man whose 
blood contains the malarial agent, plasmodium malariae. In 
sucking the human blood, the insect fills its body with the dis¬ 
eased blood, which can inoculate other humans. The insect 
flies away with its disease-producing cargo. Alighting on an 
innocent and ignorant victim, it injects a dose of disease¬ 
generating material. Very soon there is another victim of the 
disease and another center for the contamination of the com¬ 
munity. 

There can be no inoculation of the mosquitoes until there 
is a case of malaria in the neighborhood. When there is such 
a case and the right—or shall I say wrong?—kind of mos¬ 
quitoes are present, the whole town is in danger. 

There are several forms of malaria. The most frequently 
met type is called the tertian variety. In this variety there is 
an attack every other day. The intervening day is a com¬ 
fortable one. 

Unless you have had a good, strong attack of malaria, you 
don’t know how miserable one can be. There is a chill, when 
your teeth chatter and you shake so that your bed fairly 
vibrates. Then comes the fever, which runs so high you be¬ 
come delirious. Your brain feels as if it would burst. Your 
back aches. You wish you might die. 

After four, or six, or eight hours, you begin to sweat. As 
the perspiration increases, the headache, fever, and discom¬ 
fort decrease. Pretty soon there comes a good sleep and the 
next day you feel ‘‘fine as a fiddle.” 

It is generally recognized that quinine, one of the few 
specifics in medicine, is the standard remedy for malaria. 

Needless to say, malaria can be wiped out by destroying 
the mosquitoes and their breeding places. Ditching, drain¬ 
age, filling in low land, and proper treatment of stagnant 
water will exterminate the carrier. When once the means of 
transmission has been destroyed, the presence of malaria in 
the community disappears at once. Kill the mosquito and 
malaria will take care of itself. 


MASTOID DISEASE 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

To avoid an attack: 

1. Avoid colds, or promptly cure them. 

2. Consult the doctor at the first indication of earache. 

To treat the attack: 

i. Send for the doctor at once. Surgical measures are 
frequently necessary. 


A FTER influenza or after almost any of the acute infec¬ 
tions or contagious diseases, it is not uncommon to have 
mastoiditis. This is a painful and serious complication. 

Back of the ear is a prominence called the mastoid bone. 
Inside this bone are a lot of spaces like the cells in honeycomb. 
The largest space is the mastoid antrum, which opens into the 
middle ear. 

The mastoid cells are of small consequence in health, but 
when diseased, you will find that these little cells are so 
located and so neighbored that their involvement is serious, 
even fatal. 

I have told you that the mastoid communicates with the 
middle ear. In its turn, the middle ear communicates with 
the nose through the Eustachian tube. This relationship 
leaves the ear susceptible to attack. You “catch cold.” For 
a few days the nose “runs.” The ears feel stopped up. 
There are occasional twinges of pain in one ear. Then the 
ear begins to ache, and, with intermittent periods of slight 
relief, trouble steadily increases. 

A “gathering” forms in the middle ear, and in a day or 
two the drum may break, permitting the discharge of a few 
drops, or of a considerable amount of fluid. Usually the pain 
ends now, and after a few days the discharge stops, the per¬ 
foration heals, and recovery proceeds satisfactorily. 

284 



MASTOID DISEASE 


285 


In other cases, however, the discharge stops and the pain 
returns. Now, however, it is not in the ear only, but it is also 
felt back of the ear. The pain grows worse and the skin over 
the prominence back of the ear gets red. Gradually the tissues 
here begin to swell. The swelling increases till the ear is 
pushed forward. It may be difficult to turn the head. 

There are fever, restlessness, anxiety, and even delirium. 
The patient gives every evidence of severe illness. 

Between the mastoid antrum and the cavity of the skull is 
a layer of bone, no thicker than a half dozen sheets of paper. 
As you know, the brain occupies the interior of the skull. It 
is really easier for pus in the mastoid cells of a grown person 
to burrow through the bone into the brain, than to escape out¬ 
wardly into the soft tissues behind the ear. Therefore, to pro¬ 
tect the brain and for the lesser reasons, when the mastoid 
cells fill with pus, an operation should be performed to permit 
their drainage. 

The story of how the mastoid becomes involved should 
teach you several important lessons. The first of these is 
that you should lead such a hygienic life that colds are not in 
your catalogue. 

The next is that a common cold should not be regarded 
lightly. Give yourself such considerate treatment that it 
will disappear speedily. 

Lastly, do not neglect an earache. You need the early ad¬ 
vice of your family doctor if the ear becomes involved. 

(See also Adenoids; Cold, Why We Should Not Neglect a 
Common; Catarrh, Nasal; Coryza; Earache; Tonsils, En¬ 
larged .) 


MEASLES 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. At the first indication of sore throat, fever, or 1 croupy 
cough, put the sufferer to bed and send for 1 the doctor. 

2. Keep the patient separated from other members of 
the family. 

3. Keep him in bed in a darkened, well-ventilated room 
where the temperature is about 70 degrees. 

4. While the fever lasts, limit the diet to milk, bread, and 
light soups. 

5. Watch eyes, ears, nose, and thrtoat carefully to avoid 
complications. 

6. Let the sufferer remain in bed for a week after the 
fever has entirely ceased. 


M EASLES is the most highly contagious disease known 
to man. It is communicable from the time of the first 
symptoms until the catarrhal symptoms disappear. 

It is a mistake for a mother purposely to expose her child 
to measles. Indeed, until the age of five, every care should 
be taken to avoid the ailment. If measles can be dodged 
until the child is well developed, he will fight off the effects 
with greater ease. 

The disease is seldom serious in healthy children. It 
should, however, be closely watched to avoid any after-effects. 
Like whooping-cough, it is frequently followed by pneumonia, 
bronchitis, or tuberculosis. 

In adults an attack of measles is frequently a severe ex¬ 
perience. 

Keep a close eye on a child for two weeks after exposure 
to the disease. The period of incubation is from seven to four¬ 
teen days. If the child develops a cold with a slight fever, a 
croupy cough, sore throat, or swollen tonsils, put him to bed 
at once and send for the doctor. 

286 



MEASLES 


287 


Do not wait for the appearance of the rash to separate 
him from other children. This does not come until about the 
end of the fourth day of illness. Then the fever begins to go 
down. 

The eruption can usually be seen first, if you will look for 
it, on the roof of the mouth. There will be two or three dis¬ 
tinct little inflamed pimples, or ‘‘papules.” Some hours 
after, it will spread to the neck, the face, the forehead, and 
the body. A well-marked case can be recognized at a glance. 
The face is flushed, the eyes red, and the cheeks covered with 
groups, or crops, of pimples. By the fifth or sixth day the 
eruption begins to fade and the “desquamation,” or peeling 
process, begins. By the seventh or eighth day, the eruption 
is nearly gone, leaving a bluish look over the body. 

The disease always runs its course. Great care should be 
taken, however, to prevent complications. 

The patient must be kept in bed in a darkened, well-ven¬ 
tilated room. The temperature should be kept uniform, at 
about 70 degrees. While the fever lasts, the diet should be 
limited to milk, bread, and light soups. As the peeling period 
is about ended, a more generous diet may be allowed. 

The eyes, ears, nose, and throat are affected while the 
fever lasts, so that they must be closely watched. 

In an average case the patient should stay in bed for a 
week after the fever has entirely ceased. 

Your doctor will prescribe suitable medication to meet the 
symptoms. 


MUMPS 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Send for the doctor. 

2. Keep the sufferer quiet. 

3. Apply hot compresses to the swelling for ten minutes 
each hour. 

4. If the temperature is high, sponge the body with cold 
water or alcohol several times a day. 

5. Isolate the sufferer to prevent communicating the 
disease, and destroy all discharges from the nose and 
throat. 


E VERYBODY laughs if you say a friend has the mumps. 

I suppose it is because the mumps patient looks so 
funny. His face is all out of shape and his natural expression 
is lost in the swelling. 

But, after all, mumps is not an ailment to be laughed at 
or despised. It is a real disease. 

The organs which supply the moisture for the mouth are 
called the salivary glands. In mumps these glands become in¬ 
flamed and swollen. This makes the neck and the tissues 
under the edge of the lower jaw stick out, causing the face 
to lose its symmetry. 

The nature of the germ or virus carrying the infection is 
not understood as yet, but the disease is classified with the 
acute infectious or contagious diseases. It comes on two or 
three weeks after exposure. 

When the disease gains a foothold in a school or institu¬ 
tion, it may attack almost every person in attendance. 

It is rather uncommon, but not unheard of by any means, 
to have mumps in adult life. Children under fifteen and past 
ten, boys particularly, are likely to be the victims. Even 
nursing children may have the mumps. 

288 



MUMPS 


289 


The first sign of mumps is fever. This rarely runs very 
high, unless the attack is particularly acute. It usually varies 
from 101 or 102 to 104 degrees. The sufferer may become de¬ 
lirious. 

There is marked pain and great swelling on one side of the 
face. Pretty soon the other side may become involved. 

Sometimes the swelling is so great that the patient can 
hardly open the mouth. This symptom persists for three, 
four, or five days. 

Earache and perhaps dullness of hearing are other symp¬ 
toms occasionally met. In some cases there is almost no pain 
of any sort. 

The symptoms last for a week or ten days. Then the fever 
and swelling disappear and the disease is gone. 

There may be certain uncomfortable complications. Other 
glands may be involved. In rare instances the brain may be¬ 
come affected. Kidney trouble, paralysis of the face and 
other parts, and inflammation of the joints are other excep¬ 
tional complications. 

In very rare cases the gland suppurates and must be 
drained. Fortunately, however, this is most uncommon. Most 
of the cases are simple, speedily relieved, and leave no after¬ 
effect. 

You will be surprised to know that it is sometimes difficult 
to tell the difference between mumps and diphtheria. Slight 
swelling, pain, difficult swallowing, and fever may give a 
suspicion of diphtheria. Of course, in diphtheria there may 
be a membrane in the throat, which is lacking in mumps. 

This leads me to say that whenever a child is taken sick, 
having a chill or convulsions, vomiting, running nose, and 
fever, the parent should inspect the throat. In very young 
children diphtheria is a serious and too frequently fatal dis¬ 
ease. Early recognition is of tremendous importance, because 
early use of antitoxin may save the child’s life, while if the 
recognition is postponed, the disease may be fatal in spite of 
all treatment. 

There seems little need of mistaking diphtheria for 
mumps, but the mistake does occur and we must take no 


290 


MUMPS 


chances. It may happen, of course, that mumps and diph¬ 
theria appear together. The family doctor will settle all these 
problems. 

The victim of mumps should be kept apart from the rest 
of the family. The secretions of the nose and throat contain 
the organisms or the virus responsible for the disease. Other 
children must be guarded against exposure, or the whole 
family or a whole schoolroom may be infected. 

The family doctor will direct the treatment, although there 
is little to do except to keep the patient quiet. Sponging the 
body may lower the temperature. 

Hot compresses may be applied locally. In other cases 
cold, even an ice-pack, will prove more grateful. 

(See also Diphtheria; Sore Throat; Tonsils, Enlarged.) 


NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, OR NEURASTHENIA 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Consult the doctor and have a thorough physical 
examination of the sufferer, including teeth and eyes, 
to find whether or not there is a physical basis for 
the trouble. 

2. Encourage him to discuss all fears and mental symp¬ 
toms with the doctor. 

3. Build up the general health by correcting any local 
causes and by a regular, well-ordered life. 


S OME persons break down and become neurasthenics, not 
because of the conditions of modern life, but because they 
possessed all the “makings” and were ready to become 
neurasthenic on any provocation. Had they been born in an¬ 
other age, or in other surroundings, their lack of adaptability 
might not have been discovered. 

It is a great thing to be able to adjust yourself to your 
environment. Failure to do so means mental friction, and 
friction long continued will do harm. 

It is not alone the conditions of city life, however, that re¬ 
sult in a nervous breakdown. The old-time rural monotony 
is just as bad. No doubt, many a case of “nervous prostra¬ 
tion” has come from the dull, dreary, dark, and miserable 
circumstances of having nothing'to do. 

The symptoms of neurasthenia are almost as many as 
there are the victims of the condition. Loss of power to per¬ 
form the ordinary duties of life is perhaps common to all the 
cases. The bookkeeper can’t add, the seamstress can’t thread » 
her needle, the chauffeur is afraid to drive his car, the busi¬ 
ness man dreads his office, the teacher can’t bear the noise 
and confusion of the schoolroom, the reporter can’t find 
words to express his thoughts. 

291 




292 NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, OR NEURASTHENIA 

Did you ever throw down your papers, books, or work and 
declare you would never do another stitch? That is an early 
symptom. 

Inability to sleep, fitful sleep, lying awake for hours, then 
falling asleep when it is time to get up, and finally leaving 
the bed more tired than on going to bed—these are signs of 
neurasthenia. 

Pains here and there, headache, eye-ache, and difficult 
breathing are other symptoms. Profuse sweats, palpitation 
of the heart, and throbbing or pulsation somewhere in the 
body are other symptoms. 

With all the rest, the sufferer has an abiding belief that 
he is doomed, that he can never recover. 

In the treatment of these cases the first essential is to 
arouse in the patient the desire to recover and the belief that 
he will get well. To this end, he needs a doctor in whom he 
has confidence, or one who can awaken the hope of recovery. 

Change of scene, change of companions, diversion, new 
thoughts, all will help. 

Almost always there is a physical basis for the trouble. 
This must be found. Very frequently constipation is present. 
Coarse food and the daily use of mineral oil, a tablespoonful 
on retiring, will help this symptom. 

Tub or shower-baths every day, with brisk rubbing of the 
skin afterward, will promote the well-being of the patient. 

The oculist and the dentist should pass on the case. Eye 
strain or dental defects may be the cause of some drainage of 
nerve energy. 

The patient should discuss all his fears and confess all his 
sins to his physician. Frankness of this sort will go far to¬ 
ward helping him to effect a cure. 


NEURITIS 


WHAT TO DO 


1. Put the sufferer to bed and keep him quiet. 

2. Apply capsicum vaseline over the painful nerve and 
cover the part with a hot, wet towel. 

3. If this does not relieve the pain, try wrapping the 
affected part in cotton and snugly bandaging. 

4. Send for the doctor, who will look for the cause of 
the symptom and advise measures for correcting this. 


E have little sympathy for a sufferer unless we can 



* * visualize his ailments. If the complaining individual 
looks well and eats heartily, we look askance upon his insist¬ 
ent murmurings. We consider him a croaker and a grunter. 

As a matter of fact, however, there are great sufferers in 
this world who show no external evidences of their disabili¬ 
ties. One of the diseases capable of causing intense pain 
without visible sign of trouble is popularly called neuritis. 
The pain may incapacitate the victim. It is so agonizing that 
concentration on any labor, physical or mental, is impossible. 

The name neuritis means inflammation of a nerve. Nerves 
consist of bundles of fibers, surrounded by a delicate cover¬ 
ing called the sheath. In neuritis there may be inflammation 
of the covering, or the disease may show itself by a disturb¬ 
ance within the sheath and between the nerve fibers. In severe 
and protracted cases the fibers themselves become inflamed. 

In the beginning, the disturbance may be confined to a 
limited portion of a nerve. After a while, it may extend 
along the nerve or attack other nerves. When it involves a 
lot of nerves, it becomes more formidable and is known as 
multiple neuritis or polyneuritis. 

If the pain is long continued and very severe, the rest is 
disturbed. Then, for lack of sleep, there may be a marked 


293 




294 NEURITIS 

effect upon the vitality, loss of appetite, and gradual under¬ 
mining of the health. 

Usually, and particularly in mild cases, there is little con¬ 
stitutional derangement. But it is easy to discover what is 
wrong, because the affected nerve is very sensitive to pressure. 
Sometimes the overlying skin is reddened and the parts may 
be considerably swollen, causing the surface to be hard and 
glazed in appearance. 

You know there are two kinds of nerves—motor nerves 
and nerves of sensation. The former control the movements 
of the body. They are the wires, so to speak, which carry the 
messages from the brain to the muscles. 

If there is a neuritis involving important nerves which 
communicate with your hand muscles, there may be such in¬ 
terference with your functions as to make these muscles help¬ 
less. Your hand may be as useless as if it were dead. 

In certain forms of neuritis involving this region there 
may be “wrist drop.” That is, the muscles are powerless and 
the hand droops at the wrist, falling down much as a dog’s 
paw hangs down when you make him 4 ‘Sit up, Fido.” 

More commonly, there is power to move the muscles, but 
motion is so painful that the victim dreads to make the effort. 

If the neuritis involves a nerve of sensation, there may be 
itching and tingling, or there may be numbness, with, per¬ 
haps, loss of all feeling. 

The attack may last a few days or for several months. It 
all depends on the cause. 

There are two general forms of neuritis, speaking of the 
disease from its causation factors. The first we may call 
primary neuritis. 

Exposure to cold is a common cause. Since the face is ex¬ 
posed to weather conditions, you will not be surprised to learn 
that neuritis of the facial nerve is a common expression of the 
disease when it comes from this cause. 

We always associate pain in the nerves or muscles, pain 
which comes from exposure to cold, with rheumatism. On 
this account, this form of neuritis is sometimes called rheu¬ 
matic neuritis. 


NEURITIS 


295 


Direct injury of the nerve is another cause for primary 
neuritis. A blow on a nerve, or the tearing of the nerve from 
a wound—anything which places pressure on the delicate 
tissue or directly damages the nerve—may produce a neu¬ 
ritis. 

Pressure of a tumor or injury of the nerve from death of 
adjacent body tissues may cause inflammation of a nerve. 

More common than primary neuritis, however, is a form 
secondary to some other ailment. Any disease capable of 
producing toxins or poisons in the body may set up inflamma¬ 
tion in one or more of the nerves. 

The more sensitive and delicate the organ or the tissue, 
the more liable it is to the effect of a toxin. It is no wonder, 
then, that the finely made and sensitive nerves are easily dis¬ 
turbed by the absorption of bodily toxins. 

Most of the infectious or contagious diseases are capable 
of generating poisons that may cause inflammation of a nerve. 
After diphtheria, smallpox, scarlet fever, or typhoid there 
may be violent neuritis. Malaria may cause trouble of this 
sort. Diabetes is another offender. 

Abuse of alcohol is one of the most frequent causes of 
neuritis. This is particularly true of women. Their more 
delicate nerves do not resist the effects of alcohol as well as 
do those of men. 

It is not difficult, usually, to recognize alcoholism as the 
real cause of the pain and inflammatory changes. The mental 
and general effects of alcohol are readily observed. 

Chronic arsenic poisoning, food poisoning, and poisoning 
from other toxic agents may produce neuritis. 

I never see a case of neuritis without asking about teeth, 
tonsils, nasal cavities, and intestinal tract. There is no doubt 
that absorption of bodily poisons may cause serious involve¬ 
ment of the nerves. Intestinal fermentation, chronic consti¬ 
pation, pussy gums, as well as the more deep-seated infections, 
have most to do with this trouble. 

In the treatment, it is necessary to find and remove the 
fundamental cause. Until this is done, there is little hope of 
speedy cure. 


296 


NEURITIS 


Absolute quiet is essential to the relief of an acute case. 
Hot applications and electricity are valuable. 

Great comfort may follow wrapping the affected part in 
cotton and then snugly bandaging. Fixation and support cer¬ 
tainly relieve the pain. 

Applying capsicum vaseline over the painful nerve and 
then covering the part with a hot, wet towel usually stops the 
aching for a little while. 

The doctor will provide the necessary remedies 

(See also Sciatica .) 


PILES, OR HEMORRHOIDS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Replace the protruding swelling. To do this, lubri¬ 
cate the parts freely with vaseline, get into a tub of 
hot water, and gently push the swelling back through 
the opening. 

2. If this method is not successful, apply a cold-water 
bag or hot-water compresses to the swelling. 

3. To relieve the itching, wash the parts frequently with 
soap and water and apply zinc oxide ointment, ex¬ 
tract of witch-hazel, or a teaspoonful of alum to a 
cupful of water. Ointment of galls may be applied 
twice a day. 

4. To relieve painful bowel movements, insert a glyc¬ 
erine suppository in the rectum, just before evacua¬ 
tion. 

5. Correct constipation, if present. (See chapter on 
Constipation, Part II.) 


D ELICACY prevents our speaking of certain troubles and, 
as a result, many a simple and easily remedied condi¬ 
tion is permitted to go on for a lifetime. The itching, gnaw¬ 
ing, bearing-down, sticking, and splinter-like pains in the 
region of the rectum are symptoms which are likely to be the 
result of trifling causes. Most of these symptoms may be 
speedily removed in the simplest manner. 

The rectum may be attacked by one of several diseases or 
conditions. Its anatomy and functions are such that it lends 
itself to certain ailments. 

This part of the lower bowel is from five to eight inches 
long. It is more or less constricted at each end. The middle 
part is elastic and dilatable. This portion is not unlike a 
pocket in which large quantities of waste material may ac¬ 
cumulate. 


297 




298 PILES, OB HEMOERHOIDS 

The lining membrance of the rectum is thrown into a 
series of folds. It is as if the lining were too long; to make it 
fit at all it would naturally be puckered and wrinkled. Be¬ 
hind each such fold there is a space, or cavity, at the bottom 
of which may be a sore spot. 

At the very lowest part, just before the cavity of the 
rectum opens externally, is what has been called the “ pile¬ 
bearing inch.” This is made up of a very dense network of 
blood-vessels, particularly of veins. Not only are the veins 
numerous and large, but there are many nerves in these 
tissues. The presence of the sensitive nerves accounts for the 
tenderness of this region and for the extreme painfulness of 
any disturbance here. Powerful muscles grip and control the 
exit, and by their very action pain is produced by the pressure 
or pull affecting any ulcerated or raw surface. 

Above this last inch is another ring of blood-vessels. This 
group of veins communicates with the veins which pass 
through the liver. On this account, any disease attacking the 
liver and interfering with the flow of blood may produce con¬ 
gestion and internal piles, or hemorrhoids, as the doctors call 
them. 

Hemorrhoids are like varicose veins. They really are 
swollen or dilated veins. As the congestion of the veins in¬ 
creases, the local swelling is more and more pronounced. 
Persons who are on their feet much, or who have poor circula¬ 
tion because of lack of exercise, are apt to be affected. 

The condition is a disagreeable one and may become very 
painful. The rawness and soreness of the tissues increase. 
The trouble may be so bad as to cause real sickness. 

It is rare for any person past forty to be entirely free 
from some form of hemorrhoids. 

Habitual constipation, causing overdistention of the 
rectum with waste material and straining at stool, is respon¬ 
sible. It is a pity that so many persons neglect this simple 
ailment. Neglect it they do, however, and piles are among 
the common results. 

The trouble may be observed for the first time immediately 
after a strained attempt at evacuation of the bowels. A swell- 


PILES, OR HEMORRHOIDS 299 

ing or lump is found outside the opening of the bowel. It is 
dark red or blue in color and sensitive to the touch. 

If this swelling cannot be pushed back through the open¬ 
ing, it may become sore and ulcerated, and may bleed at times. 
There may be more than one such lump. Indeed, there may 
be a group of lumps. After some months, the soreness dis¬ 
appears and the swellings become hard and leathery. 

This form is usually called external piles. Internal piles 
develop higher up in the rectum. Their presence is unsus¬ 
pected until they get big enough to be gripped by the muscles 
of the rectum, or until they drop down and protrude through 
the opening. This form is apt to bleed considerably. 

To prevent hemorrhoids it is necessary to have regular 
bowel movements and to keep the contents of the bowels soft. 
Regular and frequent movements, without straining, are es¬ 
sential to rectal health. 

In the treatment of hemorrhoids the first step is to re¬ 
place the protruding lump. This can usually be done by lubri¬ 
cating the parts freely with vaseline, getting down on the 
hands and knees, and gently pushing the mass back through 
the opening. By getting into a tub of hot water, the replace¬ 
ment may be accomplished quite readily in most instances. 

If the swelling cannot be returned by these methods, the 
local application of ice water, or a cold-water bag, will be 
useful. In other cases towels wrung out of water as hot as 
can be borne will be better. 

Most persons who have any trouble with the rectum com¬ 
plain of terrible itching. This can be relieved, almost always, 
by keeping the parts perfectly clean. After each movement 
the region should be washed with soap and water. 

If this does not give relief, apply zinc oxide ointment after 
washing. Extract of witch-hazel, or a teaspoonful of alum to 
a cupful of water, may be used. Ointment of galls may be 
applied twice a day. 

If the sufferer from piles becomes constipated, movement 
of the bowels is a real ordeal. Relief may be afforded by the 
insertion into the rectum of a glycerine suppository. This 
will soften the waste material. 


300 PILES, OR HEMORRHOIDS 

Mineral oil, a tablespoonful every night, three hours after 
eating, will hurry the fecal stream, produce smaller and more 
frequent stools, and assist the cure. For the same purpose, 
simple food is important. 

If, in spite of these simple measures, the trouble persists 
or grows worse, see your family doctor for further advice. 

(See also Constipation .) 


PLEURISY AND EMPYEMA 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Send for the doctor at once. 

2. Put the patient to bed and keep him quiet. 

3. To relieve the pain in the side, cover the part with 
vaseline, and then apply a towel dipped in water as 
hot as can be borne and cover with a dry towel. 
Renew the heat every few minutes until the doctor 
arrives. 


A “STITCH” in the side which persists gives suspicion of 
pleurisy. Illness for a couple of weeks may be followed 
by the stitching pain in the chest. More commonly a sudden 
chill comes on before the stitch. 

The pain may be near the nipple, under the arm, or lower 
down in the side. It is likely to he cutting, knife-like in sharp¬ 
ness, and excruciatingly painful. 

Every time a deep breath is taken and immediately on 
beginning to cough, there is renewed agony in the side. The 
sufferer holds the chest and attempts to relieve the pressure 
by bending over sideways. 

In pleurisy there is a dry, hacking cough, some fever, and 
it becomes more and more difficult to breathe. 

The pain subsides somewhat in a few days, but the difficulty 
in breathing increases. This new complication is due to the 
accumulation of fluid within the chest cavity. 

After a little, the fluid begins to absorb, the breathing 
grows less labored, and by the end of three weeks from the 
beginning of the attack conditions are quite normal again. 

The thing we fear when pleurisy occurs under these cir¬ 
cumstances is that the fluid, instead of being clear serum, may 
be pus. When the chest has been opened in such a case, there 
has been found a great quantity of cream-like pus. This con¬ 
dition is called empyema, pus in the pleural cavity. 

301 




302 


PLEURISY AND EMPYEMA 


Fortunately, not all cases of pleurisy go on to pus forma¬ 
tion. Indeed, some of them stop before any fluid forms. This/ 
variety is called dry pleurisy. 

In the treatment of pleurisy the patient should be put to 
bed and kept very quiet. Try cold applications to relieve the 
pain. If these do not serve, use hot compresses. Dip a towel 
in water as hot as can be borne and cover the side. Place a 
dry towel over this and, every few moments, change for an¬ 
other hot towel. 

To stop the agony of breathing, broad straps of adhesive 
plaster will be most helpful. Have these evenly applied and 
brought slightly across the midline of the body. 

Any suspicion of pleurisy should drive the sufferer to his 
family physician. One attack appears to predispose to an¬ 
other. 

To guard against future attacks, every attention should be 
given to building up the body and thus raising the powers of 
resistance. Proper sleep, good food, daily exercise, fresh air 
day and night, deep breathing, and all the natural means for 
improving the health are most essential. 

(See also Influenza; Pneumonia .) 


PNEUMONIA 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Put the patient at once to bed in a room flooded with 
air and sunshine. 

2. Send for the doctor, who will direct the treatment. 


O NE of the most dreaded diseases of the human family is 
pneumonia. There are two forms. Lobar pneumonia is 
the common and dreaded variety. Bronchopneumonia is less 
serious and is, in a way, simply an extension downwards of 
bronchitis. 

Lobar pneumonia is divided into several types—four, to be 
exact. From the layman’s standpoint, however, we need not 
trouble to classify the milder or more serious forms of what 
in every type is an unwelcome visitor. 

Inoculation with pneumonia may be traced to some micro¬ 
organism. There are various organisms that may be respon¬ 
sible for the disease. The most generally accepted idea as to 
the identity of the offender is that the pneumococcus is re¬ 
sponsible for this dread malady. 

Like the common weeds found everywhere on earth, the 
pneumococcus is one of the most common of all the disease- 
producing organisms. Not alone is it responsible for pneu¬ 
monia, but also it is the cause of abscesses of the ear, of the 
skin, or of any part of the body. In pinkeye, tonsilitis, colds 
—in almost every acute disease producing pus or exudate— 
this germ may be the exciting factor. 

It is commonly found in the nose and throat, even of 
healthy persons. On this account, sneezing and coughing, by 
“droplet infection,” may carry to some susceptible person 
harmful germs which may raise havoc. It will be seen, there¬ 
fore, that what seems to be a harmless thing may be an act 
productive of disease and death in another. Consequently, 
the nose and mouth should be covered by a handkerchief when- 

303 



304 


PNEUMONIA 


ever there comes an irresistible impulse to sneeze. It is un¬ 
fair to others to neglect this precaution, and you are submit¬ 
ting yourself to a real danger if you receive the spray from 
some thoughtless neighbor. 

So many ailments are due to the pneumococcus, it is ex¬ 
tremely fortunate for humanity that this organism is easily 
killed. While it may be carried by dust of the house or street, 
it is unlikely to be. Direct sunlight will kill the germ in less 
than two hours. Almost by the time the sputum dries, the 
germ has become materially less virulent. 

Pneumonia is ushered in by a chill. So commonly is this 
the first symptom that we are almost safe in saying that the 
illness is not pneumonia if there has been no chill. The chill 
may come on at night, awaking the patient from sleep, or it 
may come on at any time. Without warning or previous ill- 
feeling, the violent chill is experienced. 

The next symptom noted is fever. Then cough and pain in 
the chest appear. Difficulty in breathing becomes more and 
more prominent. 

On the second day the sputum becomes bloody, brick-dust 
in color. 

The crisis comes in from five to ten days after the chill. 
The fever drops and the painful symptoms disappear. 

It is fortunate, probably, that the symptoms of pneumonia 
are so painful the patient has no other thought than to go to 
bed. This is the right place. In every acute illness, especially 
in influenza, in acute and severe cold, in any attack where 
fever is a symptom, the patient should seek his bed at once. 
Many a life has been spared by early attention to illness, and 
millions of lives have been needlessly sacrificed by attempting 
to “fight off” sickness. 

Fresh air and sunlight are fatal to the germ outside the 
body, and they will go far toward recovery of the pneumonia 
patient. Let them into the room for the sick and into every 
room for the well. They are better than medicine. 

Let it be remembered that pneumonia is an infectious dis¬ 
ease and one that should be kept in proper isolation. 

(See also Influenza; Pleurisy .) 


RHEUMATISM 


WHAT TO DO IN AN ATTACK 

1. Correct constipation, if present. (See chapter on 
Constipation, Part II.) 

2. Have the teeth, gums, tonsils, and nose examined for 
possible points of infection and, if any are found, 
have them removed. 

3. Build up the general health by a good, nourishing 
diet, including milk, cream, and eggs. 

4. Have the sufferer exercise regularly and get regular 
hours of sleep in a well-ventilated room. 

5. Hot applications or electricity may help. 


E VERYBODY has a theory about rheumatism—what 
causes it, what makes it worse, or exactly what it is. 
The general term rheumatism is used to describe several sep¬ 
arate and distinct conditions. Perhaps the ailment most com¬ 
monly known by this name is the one attacking the muscles and 
called by the doctors muscular rheumatism. 

Lameness, soreness, or stiffness of some one or more parts 
of the body is an all-too-frequent experience of civilized life. 

The pain and stiffness may be in the muscles of the back, 
when it is called lumbago. The neck may be affected, produc¬ 
ing a stiff neck. Sometimes the muscles between the ribs or 
the muscles of the scalp may bear the brunt of the attack. 

In the beginning of an attack of muscular rheumatism 
there may be fever. But sometimes the increase in tempera¬ 
ture may be so slight as not to be noticed. Very soon, how¬ 
ever, the pain or tenderness will be manifest. 

Another form of rheumatism involves the joints. This is 
called articular rheumatism. In the acute form it may be a 
severe, exceedingly painful, and sometimes dangerous disease. 
This is called rheumatic fever. 

It is ushered in by chilliness, fever, redness, and swelling 

305 




306 


RHEUMATISM 


of the knees, ankles, wrists, or other joints. The symptoms 
may last for several weeks. Unfortunately, the heart is fre¬ 
quently involved, and permanent damage to this organ may be 
one of the permanent effects. 

There is a chronic form of articular rheumatism in which 
the joints become permanently stiff, deformed, and incapable 
of use. 

The causes of all forms of rheumatism are many. Infec¬ 
tions are responsible for many cases. For instance, bad teeth, 
especially teeth abscessed at the roots, and certain forms of 
diseased tonsils will produce rheumatism of the joints. Con¬ 
stipation and infection in the intestines may cause muscular 
rheumatism. Infection in the nose may be the causative 
factor. 

Sufferers from repeated attacks of rheumatism should not 
fail to consult the dentist. If he determines it necessary, an 
X-ray of the teeth should be made to see whether there is 
trouble at the roots. Bad dentistry and neglect of the teeth 
are important factors in the production of rheumatism. 

Sometimes, what is called rheumatism of the scalp may be 
simply the reflected pain of eye strain. Pain in the back of 
the neck, too, may be due to this cause. In persons about 
forty-five years of age, when the consciousness of the need of 
glasses has not been aroused, there may be such symptoms. 
These will disappear speedily after a visit to the eye spe¬ 
cialist. 

Bad posture, leaning over a desk, and too much effort on 
one wrist or arm in driving an automobile are other causes 
for muscular pain. Badly fitting shoes with heels too high 
or too low may cause strain and pain. Such aches are not 
rheumatic, but they may be mistaken for rheumatism. 

When a sore muscle or joint is discovered, ask yourself 
how it might have been produced by an unusual effort of some 
sort. If such a cause cannot be determined, watch the symp¬ 
tom and, should it persist, consult your physician. He will 
determine whether or not it is rheumatism and advise regard¬ 
ing treatment. 

(See also Constipation; Gout; Hardening of the Arteries .) 


RHEUMATISM IN CHILDREN 


WHAT TO DO 

i. Call the doctor, so that he can examine the heart 
frequently. 


M OST of us look upon rheumatism as a disease of old 
folks. We hear somebody grumble, “Oh! dear, I am 
getting old and rheumatic.” But rheumatism is not confined 
to the old. It may be met at any period of life. It is much 
more common in children than most people think. 

Rheumatism is not due to such degenerative changes as we 
expect in old age. On the contrary, it is as much an infection 
as scarlet fever or measles. Indeed, it may possibly be due 
to a peculiar form of the same germ which causes scarlet fever. 

Most of the common ailments in which pus formation is a 
symptom are produced by a germ called the staphylococcus. 
But there are other pus-producing or disease-inducing germs, 
of which the streptococcus is the most common. 

This is an uncomfortable visitor. Whenever this germ in¬ 
vades the body, we have a fight on hand. 

Among the complications of scarlet fever, tonsilitis, and 
other diseases associated with streptococcus infection is rheu¬ 
matism of the joints. 

It is bad enough to have the joints involved in a painful, 
inflammatory process, but there is another possibility which is 
worse. It is not at all uncommon for the heart to become af¬ 
fected. Even in a very mild case of rheumatism, the heart 
may give undue trouble. 

Such a complication as we are discussing need not be a re¬ 
sult of a severe attack of rheumatism. It may follow a mild, 
even an almost unsuspected, attack. Likewise, it may not 
show itself at once. The heart involvement may not be dis- 

307 




308 


RHEUMATISM IN CHILDREN 


coverable until a considerable time after the beginning of the 
original trouble. 

In every case of tonsilitis or scarlet fever the heart of a 
child should be watched. The doctor will examine it every 
day or two to make sure it shows no sign of trouble. His ex¬ 
aminations will not end with the acute ailment, but if there is 
any sign of rheumatism, will continue for weeks afterward. 

I hope I have made clear to you that tonsilitis, scarlet 
fever, rheumatism, and certain forms of heart disease are 
cousins. They are very closely related conditions. But there 
are other troubles belonging to the same family. One of them 
is St. Vitus’s dance, in which twitching of the muscles and 
loss of control of the movements of the body are uncomfort¬ 
able symptoms. 

Do not neglect any trouble your child may have, if fever, 
pain, difficult breathing, or unusual symptoms are present. 
You need not get frightened over them, but by giving proper 
heed to their importance, you will guard the youngster from 
something more serious. 


RICKETS, OR RHACHITIS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Consult the doctor. 

2. Give proper diet, containing a sufficient amount of 
butter fat and vitamine-carrying foods, such as or¬ 
ange juice, tomato juice, the juice of raw beef, and 
so forth. 

3. See that the sufferer has a daily bath, fresh air, and 
an abundance of sunlight, rubbing with sweet oil, and 
warm clothing in cold weather. 

4. Discourage walking until the bones and muscles are 
strong. 


npHIS is a preventable disease. 

Bad housing and ill feeding are certain to affect the 
health of the infant. A baby born in a home of four rooms 
has four times the chance to live that a baby has who is born 
in a home of one room. 

Overcrowding is not always, but it is usually, one of the 
pretty uniform series of social disabilities. In any event, the 
mother of a baby born in crowded quarters and during hard 
times must be most watchful of the health of her child. 

One of the diseases liable to attack an infant under these 
circumstances is rickets. 

Rickets or rhachitis is a disease in which there is general 
impairment of nutrition. The bones show serious alterations 
from normal. 

It is not noticed until the child is six months old. While 
there is a form coming as late as the tenth year, it commonly 
appears during the first two years of life. 

Rickets is a disease associated with lack of sunshine and 
fresh air, but particularly is it found in children improperly 
fed. Let it be remembered that there can be no proper ‘ 4 sub¬ 
stitute” for the natural food of infants. 

309 




310 


RICKETS, OR RHACHITIS 

Tlie food for any particular baby is the right food or it is 
the wrong food. There is no half-way method and compro¬ 
mise is out of the question. Every baby is entitled to the ex¬ 
amination and advice of a doctor whofis informed regarding 
the needs of babyhood. Unless the child is good-natured and 
increases in weight, medical care is necessary. 

The following are the more common symptoms of rickets. 
Not all of them are apt to be present in any one instance : 

The soft spot on the baby’s head is exceedingly slow to 
close. 

The child is “chicken-breasted.” The chest is thin and 
narrow. The abdomen is large, and the skin loose and flabby. 

The muscles are undeveloped and the joints are big. 

The child is restless and irritable. He sleeps poorly. He 
begins to lose weight and, if he has walked, he objects to do¬ 
ing it any more. 

The teeth are slow to appear and are undersized when they 
do come. They may be misshapen, too. 

The child is “pot-bellied,” soft, and flabby. His head 
sweats so that it wets the pillow. He is a frail, weak, unde¬ 
veloped little sufferer. 

When the child gets good milk, containing a proper quan¬ 
tity of butter fat, when he gets orange juice, and when he gets 
the vitamine-carrying foods, the progressing trouble will be 
ended. 

Fresh air, sunlight, daily bathing, cod liver oil, inunctions 
with sweet oil, and warm clothing in cold weather will ma¬ 
terially assist the cure. 

Walking should be discouraged until the bones and muscles 
are stronger. Otherwise, “knock-knees” or “bow-legs” may 
result. 

Let me repeat! The doctor is the mother’s best friend. 
Let him advise about the child and direct the feeding. Early 
medical advice will correct conditions which, if neglected, will 
lead to deformity or early death. Taken in time, there is 
every prospect of relief. 

(See also Feeding and Care of the Baby.) 


RINGWORM, BARBER’S ITCH, AND FAVTJS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Scrub the affected parts with tincture of green soap. 

2. Remove all crusts and scales. 

3. If on a hairy part, shave the affected area. 

4. Paint the involved surface with a seven per cent solu¬ 
tion of iodine and let it dry. 

5. Cover with flexible collodion. 


A NY skin disease is an embarrassment, but some skin dis- 
eases are positively loathsome. When the hairy parts 
are involved, there are complications which add to the misery 
of the sufferer and of the onlooker, too. 

The unfortunate thing about some of these diseases is 
that they are contagious or infectious. They are easily passed 
on to others. 

I desire to tell you about two such troubles. One attacks 
men almost exclusively, involving the part of the face where 
the beard grows. The other is found in the scalps of school 
children. 

Both these diseases are forms of ringworm. Of course, 
ringworm is not confined to the hairy parts. It may be found 
in the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. But 
usually the head, the space under the arm, or some other hair- 
covered region is the favorite seat of the disease. 

Perhaps you will be surprised to learn that the finger¬ 
nails or the toe-nails may be reached by this condition. It is 
a disease of what we call epithelial tissue—skin, nails, and 
hair. 

Ringworm is what is usually called a germ disease. That 
is, it is caused by a microscopic agent of some sort. There are 
special types of these agents, and each form has its particular 
field of choice. The scalp type will not attack the hairless 

311 




312 RINGWORM, BARBER’S ITCH, AND FAVUS 

skin, and it may be said in general that the beard type rarely 
attacks the scalp. 

Germs are just as fussy in their appetites as children are. 
If a boy can have candy, he won’t take bread. So germs have 
an appetite for certain tissues and won’t feed upon any other. 

When ringworm attacks the beard it is known popularly as 
barber’s itch. 

This disease is superficial at first and may involve just a 
few hairs. In time, however, the area increases in size and 
the deeper structures are involved. 

First there are redness, thickening, scaliness, and itching 
of the skin. Pretty soon the hairs fall out or break off, leav¬ 
ing sore places. There may be tumor-like spots, covered with 
dead hair, which cut holes into the skin. Pus may flow from 
these openings. This may dry on the hairs, forming an un¬ 
sightly crust or scab. 

Ringworm of the scalp, or favus, is a disease of childhood, 
especially of school children. 

I shall not attempt to discriminate between favus and true 
ringworm. They are probably not identical in origin, but in 
their symptoms and progress, as well as in their treatment, 
they are twins. I am saying this for the benefit of my scientific 
readers who might find fault with me, if I did not mention my 
knowledge of the difference. 

Yellow crusts gradually increase in extent and depth until 
they look like honeycomb. The hairs fall out or break off, 
leaving bald spots, varying in size from a dime to a silver 
dollar. 

The scalp infection may be brought about by germs carried 
to it by hair brushes and combs. Hats and other articles of 
dress may convey the infecting agent. It is probable, too, that 
dogs, cats, horses, cows, birds, and other animals may transmit 
the disease to human beings. 

All forms of ringworm are the result of uncleanliness or 
carelessness. Modern barber shops and hairdressing estab¬ 
lishments are kept scrupulously clean and the implements are 
sterilized. These precautions are making ringworm a very 
rare disease. 


RINGWORM, BARBER’S ITCH, AND FAVUS 313 

In the treatment of ringworm, no matter whether it is the 
form of barber’s itch, favns of the scalp, or ringworm of the 
body, the methods are simple and satisfactory. 

Scrub the parts clean, using for this purpose tincture of 
green soap. Remove all the crusts and scales. Then paint 
the involved surface with iodine and let it dry. 

Having cleansed and sterilized the skin in this way, paint 
it over with flexible collodion. This will cover and protect the 
sore places. 

There are other methods of treatment, but our experience 
in the New York City schools caused us to adopt this pretty 
satisfactory method. 


ST. VITUS’S DANCE, OR CHOREA 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Protect the child from notice or ridicule of the in¬ 
firmity. 

2. Give a quart of pure, rich milk a day. 

3. Have the teeth, tonsils, throat, nose, and sinuses ex¬ 
amined for possible points of infection, and correct 
any that may be found. 

4. See that the intestinal tract is in good order. 

5. Build up the general health by play, fresh air, sun¬ 
light, moderate exercise, and good food. 


T HERE are afflicted children who have lost control of the 
voluntary muscles. Without apparent reason and with¬ 
out knowledge on the part of the victim that the thing is to 
happen, the face is drawn into horrid grimaces, the eyes wink 
rapidly, the head is jerked to one side, the shoulders are 
raised, the arms jerk, or some other muscle or set of muscles 
is acted upon, to the amazement of the onlooker and the un¬ 
happiness of the patient. For instance, the child cannot 
drink from a glass or cup without spilling the contents. 

This disease is called St. Vitus’s dance. It is so called 
because in olden times it was thought to be cured by a pil¬ 
grimage to the shrine of St. Vitus. The doctors call the 
trouble chorea. 

It is usually found in childhood, between the ages of five 
and fifteen years. Excitable, nervous children are most 
often affected. Fright, anger, grief—some sudden and 
deeply felt emotion—may bring on the first symptoms. 

Among the causes of chorea many things have been sug¬ 
gested. Heart disease and rheumatism have been counted im¬ 
portant factors. Whooping-cough, scarlet fever, and anemia 
are not to he disregarded as possible causes. The impor- 

314 




315 


ST. VITUS'S DANCE, OE CHOREA 

tance of these common diseases is too often overlooked. The 
worst thing about them is the multitude of possible after¬ 
effects. Chorea is one of them. 

Eye strain should be thought of as a cause. A great many 
spasmodic twitchings of the face and head have disappeared 
after the fitting of proper glasses or the correction of defec¬ 
tive eye muscles. 

In the care of these patients there is much to be done. 
In the first place, the poor little sufferer should not be laughed 
at or made to bear the agony of ridicule. He must be so 
placed as to escape this misery. Otherwise the cure will he 
much delayed. Common humanity should point out the im¬ 
portance of this suggestion. 

The general health of the child should he promoted in 
every way. Many a poor youngster is the victim of under¬ 
feeding or of improper feeding. Undernourishment from 
either cause is fruitful reason for the trouble. A quart of 
pure, rich milk every day will go far towards a cure. 

The teeth should be examined by a competent dentist, to 
determine especially if there are any unsuspected abscesses. 
In the public schools, the great majority of children have 
defective teeth, cavities, abscesses, or disease of the gums. 
Relief of the tooth disturbance may cure the chorea. 

The tonsils and throat should be examined. Adenoids 
may he present. The intestinal tract must be cleaned, be¬ 
cause disease here may be responsible for chorea. 

Happiness, music, fresh air, sunlight, moderate exercise, 
and good food will go far towards causing recovery. 

(See also Rheumatism in Children.) 


SALIVATION 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Rinse the mouth frequently with lemon-juice or dis¬ 
solve slippery elm tablets in the mouth. 

2. Before eating, rinse with any alkaline mouth wash, 
such as listerine. 

3. Find the cause of the symptom and remove it. 


A NYONE who has had experience in singing or in public 
* speaking knows how fear or anxiety will dry up the 
secretion of the mouth. Even old stagers have times when 
the mouth is as dry as a cotton ball. 

The moisture of the mouth is supplied by certain glands, 
known as the salivary glands. When they function normally 
there is just enough saliva to keep the mouth, tongue, and 
lips moist and flexible. 

The amount of saliva produced depends on the blood sup¬ 
plied to these glands. The larger the flow of blood, the more 
is the quantity of the secretion. 

In health it is never necessary to expectorate—to spit, as 
it is commonly called. To be obliged to expectorate every 
few minutes is a sign of physical disability or of artificial 
stimulation of the salivary glands. 

Many tobacco smokers are spitters. The tobacco irritates 
and excites the glands. In consequence, the flow of saliva is 
excessive. 

Emotion produces peculiar results. It may excite the tear 
glands, causing crying. If it is a pleasurable emotion, pro¬ 
vided by the smell of roast turkey, for instance, there may 
be an uncommon secretion of saliva. 

Certain drugs, like belladonna, cause the salivary glands 
to stop their functions, and the mouth to become very dry. 




SALIVATION 


317 


That may happen to yon when the eye specialist puts “drops ’ 7 
in your eyes in order to test them for glasses. 

Other drugs, mercury for instance, have the opposite 
effect, causing a tremendous flow of saliva. The mouth and 
gums get sore and there is a constant drooling of fluid from 
the mouth and constant swallowing to get rid of it. 

This condition is called salivation. It is not always due 
to drug action. It may be caused by disease. 

Victims of salivation suffer greatly. The mouth gets very 
sore and eating is almost impossible. The gums are so 
swollen that they almost hide the teeth. 

We have a mild form of salivation in babyhood when a 
tooth comes through with unusual difficulty. When salivary 
glands are excited to undue activity drooling may be pro¬ 
nounced. 

What is the treatment for salivation! 

If it is due to a drug, that fact must be established and 
the drug discontinued. 

If it is due to some passing irritation, the salivation will 
pass away with the removal of the cause. 

If the salivation is one of the symptoms of a disease, 
there is little hope of cure until the disease is overcome. 

There are things which will promote the comfort of the 
sufferer. Rinsing the mouth frequently with lemon-juice or a 
weak solution of vinegar will promote comfort. Vinegar is 
harmful, or at least disagreeable, to some people, and of 
course if an individual finds that it does not agree with him, 
it should not be used as a mouth wash. One of the most 
soothing substances is slippery elm. Tablets of this sub¬ 
stance can be had at the drug store, and they can be kept in 
the mouth continually to relieve the disagreeableness of sali¬ 
vation. Before eating, rinse the mouth with any alkaline 
mouth wash, such as listerine. 


SCARLET FEVER 


WHAT TO DO 
To avoid an attack: 

1. Teach children to keep the hands off the face and 
fingers out of the mouth, to wash the hands several 
times a day and always before eating, and to scrub 
the hands, face, and inside of the nostrils after re¬ 
turning from school each day. 

2. Keep children away from all cases of sore throat. 

To treat an attack: 

1. If scarlet fever is in the community, look the child 
over each morning for signs of sore throat, fever, 
headache, and running nose, and if any of these 
symptoms is found, keep the child at home. 

2. Put the sufferer to bed and send for the doctor at 
once. 

3. Take all precautions—which the doctor will advise— 
to avoid complications. 

4. Keep the sufferer completely isolated for at least a 
month. 


S OME diseases are of little consequence, but scarlet fever 
is a thing to be dreaded. It is followed so frequently by 
disagreeable and blighting conditions that every parent seeks 
to protect his child against the disease. Many a school 
career has been interrupted by a visitation of scarlet fever, 
and many a life has been ruined by it. 

In every great city there is rarely a time when large num¬ 
bers are not afflicted. In every small community hardly a 
season passes without a period of closed school, on account 
of this disease. 

The period of incubation of scarlet fever varies from one 
to seven days. The disease comes on suddenly and without 
warning. Vomiting or convulsions may be the earliest 
symptom. 


318 




SCARLET FEVER 


319 


Almost immediately the fever appears. This is very high, 
running to 104 or 105 degrees on the first day. The face is 
flushed and the skin excessively dry. 

The mouth and tongue are dry. The throat is dry and 
sore. On inspection, the throat is found to be red and ton¬ 
sils swollen. The tongue is red at the top and edge and the 
surface is rough. 

The most characteristic symptom is the rash. This first 
appears on the chest and neck. There is general redness or 
flushing of the skin, with here and there red points. This 
involvement of the skin spreads, and in another day it covers 
the body. The entire surface takes on a brilliant scarlet color. 
The appearance explains the name of the disease. 

After two or three days, the rash begins to fade. In a 
week or ten days from the beginning of the attack, the swell¬ 
ing, redness, and itching of the skin have disappeared. 

When the redness and fever have subsided, the skin is 
left rough and dry. Pretty soon it begins to scale or peel. 
Whole casts of the front of the fingers may be stripped off, 
and great flakes or scales may be brushed from the entire 
surface of the body. 

This stage is called the “period of desquamation,’’ and it 
lasts two or three weeks. 

The worst thing about scarlet fever is that it has so many 
complications. Inflammation of the kidneys, middle-ear dis¬ 
ease, and involvement of the mastoid, inflammation of the 
joints, heart attacks, infection of the glands, and many nerv¬ 
ous conditions are among the most serious of these secondary 
complaints. These usually develop late in the disease. 

The patient is a menace to other children for at least one 
month, and for a longer period if any of the organs are dis¬ 
charging. Nasal and ear complications prolong the necessity 
for guarding against exposing others. 

There is much to be done to promote the comfort of the 
little patient. Proper bathing and care of the skin will help 
to control the symptoms. The family doctor will watch for 
complications and guard against them. 


320 


SCARLET FEVER 


Some day the laboratory will find a means of protecting 
against scarlet fever, as it has against other infectious dis¬ 
eases. 

What can the parent do to protect his own child and the 
children of his neighbors? 

In scarlet fever there is a stage where the skin scales or 
peels. It used to be believed that skin cast off during the 
period of desquamation carried the contagion. This is not 
an accepted idea at present. The disease is probably carried 
by the discharges from the nose and throat. 

The peeling or scaling period is dreaded now merely be¬ 
cause it coincides with the time of greatest discharge of the 
germs from the nose and mouth. The doctor should be in 
attendance until the child is entirely well. 

Almost all the infectious diseases begin with a running 
nose. When a child wakes up with a sore throat, fever, head¬ 
ache, and running nose, he should be kept at home. This 
should be done for the safety of your own child, and your 
love of humanity will make you wish to protect the children 
of your neighbors, by taking no chance of letting your child 
carry infection to them. 

In every schoolroom, from common colds, if not from more 
serious diseases, there are children who are snuffling, sneez¬ 
ing, and coughing. There is always the possibility of being 
sprayed by the explosive effects of a near-by child. The 
soiled hands of an infected child may carry the contagion 
to door-knobs, rulers, erasers, pencils, and so forth. 

Your child should be taught to keep his hands off his face 
and his fingers out of his mouth. There should be thorough 
washing of the hands several times through the day and 
always before handling food. On return to the home, the 
hands should be scrubbed with soap and water and the face 
thoroughly washed. The insides of the nostrils should be 
washed out with the wash-cloth. 

If scarlet fever is present in the community, look the chil¬ 
dren over every morning for the symptoms named. This is 
my advice to parents and to teachers. 

(See also Chills and Colds; Convulsions in Children.) 


SCIATICA 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Put the sufferer to bed. 

2. Apply menthol vaseline or capsicum vaseline, fol¬ 
lowed by hot, wet cloths. 

3. Correct constipation (See chapter on Constipation, 
Part II), and other intestinal abnormalities. 

4. Have the teeth, gums, tonsils, and nasal sinuses ex¬ 
amined for possible points of infection, and when 
such infections are found, have them removed. 


of the great nerves of the body is called the sciatic 
nerve. It runs along the back part of the thighs, from 
the hips downward. It has many branches which supply the 
buttocks and all this region, as well as the parts down the 
back of the legs. 

Disease of this nerve is often associated with rheumatism 
or gout. On this account, sciatica—inflammation of the 
sciatic nerve—is often called sciatic rheumatism. As a mat¬ 
ter of fact, its causes are not unlike the usually accepted 
causes of rheumatism. Cold, exposure to the weather, and 
chilling from wet or any other cause will bring on an attack. 

The pelvis is that part of the skeleton forming the hips 
and the prominent bony middle part of the body. Within its 
cavity are the bladder and rectum and, in women, other im¬ 
portant structures. 

The sciatic nerve has its origin inside the pelvis; therefore 
certain disturbances or diseases here may produce sciatica. 
Any abnormal pressure upon this sensitive structure may 
produce pain in all the parts supplied by the sciatic nerve. 
Likewise, rectal disease or constipation may produce the 
symptoms of sciatica. 

The chief symptom of the trouble is pain. This may be 

321 




322 SCIATICA 

in the hip, down the leg, and even in the foot. It may be 
constant, or may come and go. It may come on with sudden 
violent attacks. It may be cutting, or grinding, or burning, 
and is usually worse at night. 

Walking sometimes increases the pain, because the struc¬ 
tures are so very tender. The victim may walk on the toes 
or bend the knees to escape pressure on this nerve. 

All the symptoms may last for months and even years. 
After an apparent cure, there may be other outbreaks. 

Rest in bed, in the severe cases, is essential to relief. The 
leg should be kept quiet and hot applications made. The 
acute pain may be controlled, sometimes, by rubbing on men¬ 
thol vaseline, or capsicum vaseline, followed by the applica¬ 
tion of hot, wet cloths. 

In severe cases injections of various substances have been 
made into the nerve itself. This treatment is resorted to 
after other measures have failed. 

The condition of the pelvis and all its organs must be 
determined and proper correction of any abnormalities made. 

Needless to say, attention should be given the general 
health. If the teeth cause suspicion, they should be X-rayed 
and appropriate dental treatment given. Any focus of pus 
infection must be removed. 

The constipation or other intestinal abnormality must be 
corrected. The sufferer must have plenty of fresh air and 
lots of sleep. Business or domestic worries must be removed 
by some sort of magic, and the patient must be given every 
aid, physical and mental, in order to be restored to comfort 
and health. 

(See also Neuritis; Rheumatism .) 


SHINGLES, OE HEEPES ZOSTEE 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Find the cause and correct it. 

2. Have the sufferer take complete rest in bed, if pos¬ 
sible. 

3. Apply a soothing lotion, such as three tablespoonfuls 
of hyposulphite of soda to a quart of water, or powder 
with zinc oxide. 

4. When the pus-filled eruption breaks, apply boracic 
acid or zinc oxide ointment and keep well covered. 

5. If the shingles are about the waist or shoulders, be 
careful to have any clothing worn so loose that it will 
not cause irritation. 


T HE backbone is made up of a group of bones, called the 
vertebrae. Placed as they are, one above another, they 
form the vertebral column. Through the center of this 
column is a cavity, known as the spinal canal. This is occu¬ 
pied by the spinal cord, an important part of the central 
nervous system. 

Arising from the spinal cord are a lot of nerves, called the 
spinal nerves. They escape from the spinal canal through 
the openings in the many vertebrae of the backbone. 

Where each spinal nerve grows out from the spinal cord 
there are two roots. These roots furnish the attachment be¬ 
tween the nerve and the parent cord. 

The spinal nerves go out to supply all parts of the body. 
Certain ones go to the muscles, and others go to the skin. 
The skin or cutaneous nerves which supply the trunk, pass 
through the openings in the backbone, around the body, to the 
middle of the front surface of the body. 

Just as an injury to, or disease of, the roots of a tree 

323 





324 SHINGLES, OR HERPES ZOSTER 

will manifest itself by loss of foliage, so damage to the roots 
of a spinal nerve will be shown by disturbance in the skin 
supplied by that particular cutaneous nerve. 

When trouble of this sort occurs, the first sign is redness 
of the skin in some particular region of the body. Almost 
immediately there appears a group of vesicles or blisters on 
the reddened area. The place most commonly affected is on 
the body, over the ribs. 

The disturbed area is like a band, reaching halfway 
around the body, following the course of a given nerve. The 
irritated area resembles half a girdle or belt. This explains 
the name shingles, corrupted from “cengle,” meaning to 
girdle. 

Of course, herpes or shingles may attack any part of the 
body, depending on the particular part of the spinal cord in¬ 
volved, or the particular nerve root disturbed. I have seen 
a good many cases in which the shoulder was the seat of 
trouble. One of the most painful kinds is the rare form called 
herpes zoster ophthalmicus. This involves one eye, the neigh¬ 
boring parts of the nose and forehead, and it may extend up 
into the scalp, even to the crown of the head. One of the 
most common forms is the herpes labialis, commonly known 
as fever sores. 

There may be pain in the part several days before the 
redness and eruption appear. Sometimes there may be fever 
and feeling of illness. After the blister appears, it gets 
cloudy in a few days, dries up at the end of a week, and 
forms a scab. This drops off in another week. Usually 
a small scar, not unlike the scar of chicken-pox, is left to 
mark the site of each blister. It is quite common, after 
herpes zoster ophthalmicus, to observe a string of little scars 
from the eyebrow, across the forehead, to the edge of the 
hair. 

In old people it is not unusual to have neuralgia of the 
affected part, persisting for weeks or months after the acute 
symptoms have disappeared. 

Some kind of body poison is responsible for the trouble, 


325 


SHINGLES, OR HERPES ZOSTER 

probably, but the exact cause is uncertain. Personally, I look 
upon it as a tired man’s disease. Overwork and worry will 
be found as factors in most cases. Certainly you should have 
a thorough physical examination if you develop shingles. 
(See also Nervous Breakdown.) 


SLEEP-WALKING, OR SOMNAMBULISM 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Build up the general health, correct constipation, if 
present. (See chapter on Constipation, Part II.) 

2. See that the victim sleeps in a well-ventilated room, 
without excessive bed covering. 

3. Have him avoid excitement and worry, as far as pos¬ 
sible. 

4. If a child or young person, see that his mind is not 
overstimulated by study or amusement. 

5. When found walking, lead him back to bed quietly 
without awakening him. 


A/TANY weird tales are told of remarkable things done 
by sleep-walkers. Murders and all sorts of terrible 
stories, as well as tender ones, are built around the habit. 

The human brain is a marvelous organ. It controls the 
conscious acts of the body. It presides over its unconscious 
thoughts. 

I have read of soldiers so fatigued by strain and lack of 
rest that they actually fell asleep and continued to walk 
along, utterly unconscious of their own movements. 

It isn’t difficult to understand how this could be. How 
many, many things we do without being conscious of our 
actions! Piano-playing becomes a perfectly automatic per¬ 
formance. Typists become so expert that their nimble and 
capable fingers never fail to strike the correct keys. 

Some persons are so constituted that they sort of dream 
themselves through life. Unconscious brain action seems 
but a short step away from the conscious control of the body 
movements. It is easy for men, and especially women, of 
this type to translate into terms of action the vivid sugges¬ 
tions of their dreams. 


326 



SLEEP-WALKING, OR SOMNAMBULISM 327 

The scientific name for sleep-walking is somnambulism. 
A great authority says : i i The somnambulistic state is simply 
an exaggeration of the state of the dream. ,, 

These are big words, but when translated into our own 
language the idea becomes plain enough. 

Some dreams are more real than others. 

If they are distinctly vivid, the events of the dream may 
be so pronounced that the dreamer, having a part in his own 
dream, may actually get up to act out his own portion of 
the performance. 

Anything which lowers the vitality, anything which plays 
upon the nervous system, may produce such irritation and 
sensitiveness of the brain that it is overresponsive to phys¬ 
ical conditions. If you get too tired, your sleep is fitful and 
your sleeping hours are filled with dreams. If you have a 
tendency to sleep-walking, it will show itself at this time. 

Worry, long-continued mental effort, and ill health, may 
produce just the right conditions to encourage sleep-walking. 

Of course there are some folks who appear to have in¬ 
herited this inconvenient habit. Ordinarily, it is observed in 
young people about the time of adolescence and disappears 
later. 

Sometimes raising or lowering the pillow may help to 
prevent sleep-walking. Overeating before going to bed is 
bad for everybody, and especially for one who has this habit. 
Every attention must be given to avoid overwarmth in bed. 
Reduce the bed covering, open the window for fresh air at 
night, overcome constipation, and correct the general health 
—these are good rules to follow. 

If the sleep-walker is discovered on his rounds, lead him 
quietly and gently to his bed and make no effort to awaken 
him until he is safely under cover. It would only add to the 
nervous condition of one already overwrought to give him 
the shock of being awakened away from his own room. 

It is advisable that such a person sleep in the room with 
some one else. 

(See also Adolescence .) 


SNOEING 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Overcame the cause of mouth breathing by correct¬ 
ing the nasal or throat troubles which interfere with 
normal breathing. 

2. Break the habit of mouth breathing by making the 
snorer sleep on the side and keeping the mouth closed 
by means of a bandage or strap over the head and 
under the chin, or by strapping with adhesive plaster. 


T^EEQUENTLY somebody writes to ask me about snoring. 
* I travel enough to know why. To be kept awake two or 
three hours by some noisy breather in the Pullman is not a 
pleasant experience. 

We never feel any pity for the snorer. We would really 
like to take him out and kill him. Poor fellow! He can’t 
help it. 

But I must defend the men. They are not the only of¬ 
fenders ! 

Snoring in children is due to adenoids and enlarged ton¬ 
sils. The breathing passages are interfered with, and it re¬ 
quires desperate efforts to get the air past the obstruction. 

The usual cause for snoring in an adult is mouth breath¬ 
ing. No matter why the nose is occluded, the mouth drops 
open, and the air plays in and out of the wrong passage. 

As we grow older, the tissues of the body relax. The 
structures of the throat are no exceptions. 

Look at your throat in the mirror. In the middle there 
swings down a pendulous body known as the uvula. On each 
side of this is a thin curtain-like structure, known as the soft 
palate. 

Underlying the mucous membrane covering the structure 
is muscular tissue. In youth it is firm and taut. In advanc¬ 
ing life it becomes flaccid and relaxed. 

328 



SNORING 329 

Likewise the tissues below the parts you can see in the 
mirror are apt to become relaxed. 

It makes little difference about this condition if the mouth 
is kept closed. But if you are a mouth breather, the regular 
and deep breathing you do at night may set thin relaxed cur¬ 
tains and tissues into vibration. Pretty soon the throat is 
all tuned up, as a finely conducted orchestra of stringed in¬ 
struments. 

All the remedial measures for snoring are founded in the 
effort to keep the mouth closed. Of course this is impossible 
if there is polypus, or other growth, or thickening in the 
nose. Chronic catarrh causes such swelling of the nasal tis¬ 
sues as to interfere with free breathing. 

Sleeping on the back is a position which readily permits 
the mouth to open. 

All sorts of devices have been suggested for keeping the 
mouth closed—such as adhesive plaster, a bandage over the 
head and under the chin, tying a handkerchief over the mouth 
—to force nasal breathing. 

The cure or prevention lies in the correction of the nasal 
or throat troubles which interfere with normal breathing. 
When these defects are overcome, by sleeping on the side and 
providing for a closed mouth, the habit may be overcome, if 
the remedial measures are not too long delayed. 

In old age, confronted with the habit of a life-time, the 
hope of cure is rather remote. 

(See also Adenoids; Catarrh, Nasal; Tonsils, Enlarged .) 


STAMMERING AND OTHER SPEECH DEFECTS 


WHAT TO DO 

i. Take the sufferer to a specialist in nervous troubles, 
who will probably add to his treatment a recommen¬ 
dation for lessons by an expert in vocal training for 
the correction of speech defects. 


N OTHING is more embarrassing than a pronounced speech 
defect. The struggles and contortions of the afflicted 
mortal are painful to behold. His unhappiness is apparent 
and, unless he is very brave, he avoids the necessity for con¬ 
versation. He does not want to be laughed at or pitied. 

Stammering and stuttering are among the most common 
of speech defects. Lisping, too, is frequently met. 

Cleft palate produces a peculiar and unmistakable defect 
in speech. This is entirely different from other defects, be¬ 
cause there is an observable cause for the trouble. 

Obstruction of the nose from catarrh or polypus inter¬ 
feres with proper resonance and gives a flatness to the voice. 
There is a peculiar nasal twang. 

In stammering there is the substitution of many sounds 
for the one the person is trying to produce. In stuttering 
there may be terrible contortions of the face and mouth be¬ 
fore any sound is uttered. When the word is produced, after 
all these efforts, it may come out perfectly normal and 
natural. 

Stammering is sometimes the result of imitation. Un¬ 
consciously we imitate the manner of speech and the tone of 
one with whom we associate constantly. 

When once the habit is acquired, it is difficult to overcome. 
The sufferer becomes sensitive. He stops talking, having lost 
confidence in himself. It is difficult, indeed, to restore this 

330 



STAMMERING AND OTHER SPEECH DEFECTS 331 

confidence and to make the person believe he can really speak 
normally. 

Most persons with speech defects breathe improperly. 
They must be taught how to breathe correctly before the 
trouble can be overcome. Much depends on perfect voice 
machinery. All the vocal organs must be normal in form, 
and then they must work together to give perfect speech. 

If the hearing power is below normal, the victim will not 
be able to control his speech. It is a common thing to ob¬ 
serve marked alteration of the voice in the totally deaf. 

The last factor in normal speech production is proper 
brain action. Excessive nervousness, self-consciousness, poor 
brain circulation, or ill health, may disturb the speech centers 
in the brain. Excitement, emotion, and other psychological 
states may result in impaired vocal function. 

Every patient with a speech defect must be studied as an 
individual. His particular case may differ in some respects 
from all other cases. Patience, persistence, and good sense 
are essential to the cure. 

The child must be gently and kindly treated. By patient 
efforts the trouble may be overcome. With wrong treatment 
it grows steadily worse. 

It must be said, in general, that experts in vocal training 
and in the correction of speech defects are sure to have 
better results than can be had by an amateur. Every large 
community has its clinic or instructor for speech improve¬ 
ment. Under trained supervision the most painful speech 
defects may be overcome, or, at least, vastly improved. The 
patient must not be discouraged. Even though he has tried 
several methods without success, let him not despair. There 
is hope for every sufferer. 


TEETH, CARIES, AND PYORRHEA 


WHAT TO DO 
To avoid mouth infection: 

1. Clean a child’s teeth well, morning and night, from 
the appearance of the first baby teeth. The tooth¬ 
brush, any standard tooth-powder or paste, and den¬ 
tal floss are the implements required. 

2. Have the dentist examine the teeth at least once 
every six months. 

To treat pyorrhea in the early stage: 

i. Have the sufferer use daily a tooth-wash made of two 
drops of the fluid extract of ipecac in half a glassful 
of water. 


f 11HE prevalence of dental defects is amazing. We know a 
lot more about all physical defects since the late war. 
Ten million men were examined in pursuance of the Selec¬ 
tive-Service Act. Of all the rejections about eight per cent 
were on account of trouble with the teeth. 

Unless you have investigated the causes of school ab¬ 
sences, you will be astonished at what I am about to tell 
you. Forty per cent are due to ulcerated and aching teeth. 

Mouth infections are alleged to be responsible for a mul¬ 
titude of ills. These ailments begin with shifting pains and 
end with hopeless invalidism. 

Heart disease, rheumatism, joint disturbances, ulcer of 
the stomach, kidney disease, changes in the blood, intestinal 
irregularities, appendicitis, increased or decreased blood- 
pressure, diabetes, failing sight, neuritis, brain diseases—-all 
these ailments have been attributed to mouth infection. 

There can be no doubt that sleeplessness, nervousness 
undernourishment, mental instability, and a lot of minor 
troubles may be traced back to defective teeth. 

332 



TEETH, CARIES, AND PYORRHEA 333 

While the relation of dental troubles to general disturb¬ 
ances may not be so important as the overenthusiastic count 
it, nevertheless we cannot afford to ignore the teeth in every 
study of obscure disease. 

There are two chief forms of mouth infection. The first 
is called caries. It attacks the tooth itself. The other affects 
the gums and tissues surrounding the roots of the teeth. This 
form is called pyorrhea or Rigg’s disease. 

Ulceration, or abscess, is due to decay of a tooth, or caries. 
This is a disease of civilization. It did not occur when men 
were barbarians, and it increased as they progressed in civi¬ 
lized arts and customs. The effect of civilization on certain 
African tribes is significant. For instance, one tribe less 
than two generations ago had caries prevalent to the extent 
of one per cent. In two groups of these same natives, living 
under the conditions of civilization, ninety-five per cent were 
found recently to have caries. 

The tooth is well made to resist disease. It is covered 
with a very hard and compact substance, the enamel. But, 
like every other material in Nature, this dense substance can 
be destroyed. It gives way to the attacks made against it by 
the acids formed through the fermentation of food. 

The mouth swarms with germs. This is no wonder, be¬ 
cause we put almost everything in the world into it, including 
our own dirty fingers. Some of these germs have the power 
to convert certain foods into lactic acid. Sugar and starches 
are the particular foods which may be acted upon in this 
way. Let us consider for a moment the “sticky” foods of 
this sort—chocolates, biscuits, fresh bread, cake, pie crust, 
caramels. 

Suppose we eat such foods at night and go to bed without 
cleansing the teeth. Immediately the acid-forming germs of 
the mouth go to work on this material lodged on our teeth. 
Enough acid is produced to cut off a layer or two of enamel. 
To-morrow the process is repeated, and after a while a cavity 
is eaten into a good tooth. Thus caries begins. 

Pyorrhea follows injuries to the gums due to the accumu¬ 
lation of tartar. The sharp edges of this deposit wound the 


334 TEETH, CARIES, AND PYORRHEA 

delicate tissues. Beneath the edges of the gums the trouble 
starts. As the tissues dissolve, a pocket forms about the 
tooth, which is gradually loosened. 

Such a pocket is a splendid culture bed for the growth of 
bacteria. They thrive and multiply here. Then they travel, 
by means of the blood and lymph streams, to remote parts 
of the body. In this way, the germs reach the joints, for 
instance, causing inflammation and deformity. 

Lots of people have what they call rheumatism. Pains in 
the joints, pains in the muscles, pains worse in damp weather 
—these are the symptoms properly known as rheumatic pains. 
The sufferers think they have 4 ‘taken cold,” or they got wet, 
or sat in a draft. Perhaps they did all these things, but 
except for the fact that ugly germs are floating around in 
their blood, they wouldn’t have rheumatism. 

More and more the medical profession is attaching impor¬ 
tance to localized pus-producing conditions. A pocket of pus 
anywhere in the body is a menace to the whole system. 
Chronic ill health is founded on some obscure defect. The 
secret of cure is hidden until its key is found. In an endless 
number of cases, in the experience of every physician, the 
teeth have been found to be the factor responsible for sick¬ 
ness and, too often, for fatal results. 

When once you understand how essential the care of the 
mouth is, you will not neglect to use the tooth-brush every 
night and morning of your life. Brush the teeth not only 
sideways, but up and down. By so doing you may later 
escape disease of a serious nature. 

It has been contended that in the beginning of pyorrhea 
a very simple procedure will do good. This consists of the 
daily use of a tooth-wash made up of two drops of the fluid 
extract of ipecac in a glass half filled with water. 

Powdered chalk and orris root are the chief ingredients 
of most of the tooth-powders. It makes little difference what 
powder or paste is used. It is the tooth-brush and cleanliness 
which do the work. Dental floss may be employed to make 
clear the spaces between the teeth. By gentle effort the teeth 
can be cleaned and kept clean. 


TEETH, CARIES, AND PYORRHEA 335 

The teeth ought to he regularly inspected by a good dentist. 
Should there be the slightest suspicion of a deep-seated ab¬ 
scess, an X-ray picture must be made. 

The care of the teeth should begin with the baby teeth and 
not be left oft till the last tooth is gone. 


THYROID GLAND AND MYXEDEMA 


WHAT TO DO 

i. Upon the appearance of any of the symptoms de¬ 
scribed in the following chapter, consult a physician 
who, if the diagnosis of myxedema is made, will 
prescribe thyroid extract in suitable amounts. 


/^\N the front of the neck is the prominence called “Adam’s 
apple.” The thyroid gland extends across the neck 
just below the Adam’s apple. This part of the anatomy is 
usually associated with the rather common condition known as 
goiter. 

The thyroid is one of the ductless glands which are be¬ 
lieved to have profound effects upon the growth, health, and 
general well-being of the body. When anything impairs the 
normal function of a ductless gland, there will be observed 
pronounced symptoms of bodily derangement. 

Enlargement of the thyroid, or goiter, has certain familiar 
manifestations. Concerning this condition see the chapter 
on Goiter. In the opposite condition, removal or destruc¬ 
tion of the gland, the secretion of the gland, which under the 
usual circumstances is absorbed by the body, does not form 
at all, or is greatly reduced in quantity. The victim, then, 
must go along as best he can without one of the important 
agents of normal life. 

This unpleasant condition is called myxedema. It is most 
commonly met among women of middle life. The most con¬ 
spicuous external sign of the difficulty is the swelling, puffi¬ 
ness, and waxy appearance of the skin of the face. The skin 
generally is rough and dry, because there is little perspira¬ 
tion. Falling of the hair is observed. 

The mind is affected. Dullness, mental slowness, and 
loss of memory may be present. With the failure of memory 

336 



THYROID GLAND AND MYXEDEMA 337 

comes a suspicious and irritable attitude on tbe part of the 
patient. 

The features are sometimes greatly changed. The face 
broadens, the lips thicken, and the mouth widens. The nose 
may grow thick and broad. The bodily movements are im¬ 
paired. 

The disease may be years and years, perhaps fifteen, in 
fully developing. 

Myxedema may result from disease and withering of the 
gland, or it may follow an operation for goiter, with com¬ 
plete removal of the thyroid. 

Cretinism is a similar condition found in infants and due 
to congenital absence of the gland, or early disease causing 
its destruction. 

The myxedema patient feels better when warm. A warm 
climate or artificial warmth, therefore, will promote comfort. 
Hot applications and massage to the neck will help. 

Since the absence of the thyroid secretion is responsible 
for the symptoms, it is not surprising that an extract made 
from the thyroid gland of animals will help the victim. This 
is the case, but, under no circumstances, should this powerful 
medicine be given without being prescribed by a physician. 
He must determine the quantity and dosage, or trouble may 
follow. 

(See also Ductless Glands; Goiter .) 


TOE-NAIL, INGROWING 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Pack the groove along the edge of the nail very 
lightly with a few fibers of cotton. Tight packing 
will be harmful. 

2. If proud flesh has formed, paint twice a day with 
Monsel’s solution of iron. 

3. If the case is stubborn or of long standing, consult a 
specialist in foot troubles. 


W E don’t have to suffer from some terrible or fashion¬ 
able ailment to be most unhappy. There are any 
number of simple things that sap our strength and make 
us ill. 

One of these is ingrowing toe-nail, a condition in which 
the edge of the nail cuts through the soft tissues and becomes 
imbedded in the flesh. 

The big toe is the one most likely to be affected. The 
size, thickness, and strength of this nail and the pressure 
placed upon it by the shoe combine to make it a source of 
trouble. 

There are a number of predisposing causes of ingrowing 
toe-nail. The most common is the evil habit of wearing short 
stockings and tight shoes. A silk or cotton stocking is so 
soft and yielding that it does not seem possible for it to be 
responsible for a serious foot trouble. But it can be, and it 
is frequently the cause for ingrowing toe-nail. Constant 
pressure of the stocking upon the tissues results in pulling 
the soft tissues up and over the edge of the nail, and in 
pushing the nail into the flesh. 

So far as short and tight shoes are concerned, it is easy 
to see how the hard and unresisting leather will have pro¬ 
nounced effects upon the nail and flesh of the toe. 

338 



INGROWING TOE-NAIL 


339 


Another cause of ingrowing toe-nail is improper trim¬ 
ming of the nail. If the nail is cut too closely, and especially 
if the corners are rounded off and the edges of the nail re¬ 
moved, there is trouble in store. Instead of clipping the 
offending nail closely, it should be permitted to grow long, 
especially at the comers. By cutting straight across, instead 
of in a curve, the nail is kept short enough for comfort, and 
yet the corners are not permitted to dig into the flesh. 

Under no circumstances should the sides or edges of the 
nail be clipped. If there is tenderness in the groove along 
the edge of the nail, pack very lightly with a few fibers of 
cotton. This will offer some relief. Tight packing is apt to 
do more harm than good. 

In neglected cases proud flesh forms. Then the trouble 
is more difficult to overcome. Monsel’s solution of iron may 
be painted on a couple of times a day. This will give relief. 

If the difficulty has persisted for a long time, it will be 
wise to see a specialist in foot troubles. 


TONSILS, ENLARGED 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Have an examination for adenoids, and if present, 
have these removed. 

2. If, after removal of adenoids, the tonsils continue to 
be enlarged or to give trouble, consult the doctor 
again. 

3. Do not have the tonsils removed without due exami¬ 
nation and consideration. 


O NE of the common questions put to the doctor is: Should 
enlarged tonsils be removed! 

It is conceded without argument or discussion that ragged, 
frequently inflamed and painful, obviously diseased organs 
are worse than useless. If such tonsils fail to yield to in¬ 
ternal medication or local treatment, they should be removed. 
With this qualification, however, I must put myself on record 
as being absolutely and unqualifiedly opposed to the ruthless 
operative adventure involved in a decision to remove tonsils 
simply because they are large. To extirpate these organs 
because of what may happen if they are left, to my mind, is 
as absurd as it would be to cut off the child’s toes for fear 
that he might have corns, or to remove one kidney to lessen 
his chances of nephritis. 

I must be careful not to convey any false impression of 
my exact attitude. I recognize the strong probability that 
the tonsil may be the focus of a general Infection, that occa¬ 
sionally it may be the gateway of admission for germs of 
disease, that a diseased organ is capable of both these evils. 
Therefore, proven that the tonsil is so subversive of its real 
function, whatever that may be, then, by all means, let it be 
extirpated, root and branch. But simply that the tonsil is 
large, as seems in many children to be a perfectly normal 

340 



ENLARGED TONSILS 341 

condition, is not, in my opinion, sufficient reason or even 
excuse for its removal. 

It may seem inconsistent with what has been said about 
the tonsils to state that I hold entirely different views as 
regards adenoids. The mouth breathing, the deficient aeration 
and impaired drainage of the middle ear, the broken sleep, 
the materially reduced intake of oxygen—all these are tan¬ 
gible and readily proven pernicious results of adenoids. To 
my mind, they bear an unmistakable relationship to the en¬ 
larged tonsils, too, and with the restoration of normal breath¬ 
ing, after removal of the adenoids, the tonsils are frequently 
restored to fairly normal appearance. 

(See also Adenoids.) 


TUBERCULOSIS 


(also known as consumption) 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Give an abundance of rich milk and nourishing food, 
including eggs, fresh vegetables, and fruit. 

2. Have the sufferer live an out-of-door life. 

3. Have all the air' and sunlight possible in his bedroom, 
or let him sleep out-of-doors. 

4. Have him avoid dust and smoke, overfatigue, and 
worry, 

5. Have his doctor examine him frequently. 

6. Take all precautions to protect others from the 
disease. 


T F you have tuberculosis, you need not despair of getting 
*■* well. But in order to get well, you must follow wise ad¬ 
vice, and the sooner you begin the cure, the less serious is 
the ordeal. 

Tuberculosis is a house disease. It is fostered by bad 
housing, poor ventilation, lack of sunlight, dust—by all the 
tenement-house conditions. 

Undernourishment from lack of food or improper food is 
an important factor. 

Worry, doubt, uncertainty, unhappiness, are factors. We 
cannot escape the effects of the mental state. 

Alcohol, excessive use of tobacco, narcotic drugs, late 
hours, and all forms of dissipation predispose to tuberculosis. 

Of course, there could be no tuberculosis without the germ 
of consumption. Tubercle bacilli are so well known that the 
disease they cause is referred to everywhere as “T.B.” 

Two things are needed to develop this disease: a right 
soil—the run-down body—and the germ. 




TUBERCULOSIS 


343 


The germ is everywhere. No one of us escapes it. If we 
are to believe many investigators, few of us escape actual 
invasion of our bodies by the germ. 

A famous Italian pathologist examined seven hundred 
bodies of dead persons, taking them exactly in the order of 
their appearance in his autopsy room. He stated that in six 
hundred and ninety-seven of these were evidences of active 
or of healed tuberculosis. 

I assume that he was dealing with the poverty-stricken 
or under-world variety of human being, but, even so, it is 
not pleasant to know how prevalent the dread disease is. 

Fortunately, the germ of tuberculosis is a lazy, inactive, 
easily killed organism. A few hours in the sunlight will end 
its career. 

Our grandmothers, even though they did not know the 
scientific reason for doing many things, were very wise in 
their day and generation. They used to hang the bedding 
and the contents of the closets on the clothes-line 4 ‘to sun.” 
Sunning will kill, not only the germs of tuberculosis, but also 
the pneumonia germs, and probably the germs of a lot of 
diseases we little understand. 

We spend more hours in the bedroom than in any other 
single spot. Lives are made or broken by the kind of places 
in which the owners sleep. 

No matter how small the room, it should be arranged to 
get the maximum of air. 

It is too common a thing for the bed to be in the corner 
of the room and for two persons to sleep in it, one head thus 
being almost in the corner. Here one will get the least 
amount of air that could be provided, if that were the delib¬ 
erate purpose of the plan. 

Place the bed away from the side walls, if possible. Make 
it up so that it can be opened at the foot, with the pillows at 
the foot, instead of at the head of the bed. Then the heads 
of the sleepers are in the middle of the room, instead of 
against the wall, unless, of course, the poor little room is 
only long enough for the bed. 

If thus making the bed brings the foot very close to the 


344 


TUBERCULOSIS 


window, which is to be kept open, the heads of the sleepers 
may be protected by placing a blanket or sheet over the foot 
of the bed to keep off the direct draft. A screen of some 
sort may be devised to protect from the wind. Do not fail, 
however, to have air, and all you can get. 

If you have to ride on street-cars and you are very frail, 
make some excuse to stay on the platform, or keep near the 
door of the car. Dress in such way, with an extra wrap of 
some sort, that you are not afraid of car drafts or the open 
door. 

Get into the sunlight as much as possible. Spend your 
Sundays in the sun. 

Keep out of dusty places, drink milk, and eat good food. 

Tuberculosis is not an inherited or inheritable disease. 
It is not a fatal disease, if you are determined to live and 
will live the right life to get well. 

To avoid it, live an out-of-door life. Seek the sunlight. 
Breathe deeply. Eat real food. 

The victim of tuberculosis must do his full part to pro¬ 
tect his family and friends against infection. By appropriate 
care there is no danger to others. Children should be well 
protected. Adults run little risk. 


TUMORS 


WHAT TO DO 

i. Have the doctor examine any swelling or growth as 
soon as it appears. 


A SWELLING of any kind is called a tumor. If a stone 
hits your head and produces a big bump, you have a 
tumor. But, as the word is commonly used by physicians, it 
applies more strictly to a new and abnormal growth of tissue. 

A very good term has been applied to such tumor. It is 
“neoplasm,” meaning simply new growth. 

If you skin your hand, taking off a lot of the surface, 
Nature causes new cells to form, and pretty soon the wound 
is healed. The new skin is just like the old, and it isn’t long 
before you are unable to tell where the wound was. The new 
tissue has adjusted itself to exactly the location of the lost 
skin. This is normal growth. 

Neoplasms do not act this way. The new growth may be 
like normal tissue, but it is out of place. It does not keep 
its proper position and form. It will not conform to the 
general rule, but does just as it pleases. 

On this account, the neoplasm has been defined as “a 
tissue overgrowth which is independent of the laws govern¬ 
ing the remainder of the body.” 

Tumors or neoplasms are of two varieties: 

They may be harmless or “benign,” or they may be 
“malignant,” like cancer. When the doctor says you have 
a tumor he does not necessarily mean a cancer. 

The manner of growth of these two forms is entirely 
different. The growth of the benign tumor has been well 
compared by a recent writer to the inflation of a toy balloon. 
It simply swells, or expands. It may press upon adjoining 

345 




346 TUMOES 

tissues, but it does not reach into them or replace their sub¬ 
stance. 

The malignant tumor reaches into the substance of the 
tissue involved. It removes and absorbs the original tissue. 
Like the tree, it sends its roots into the soil, attacks its sub- 
tance, appropriates its nourishment, and grows at the ex¬ 
pense of the very soil. 

The benign tumor can be removed in its entirety, and that 
is the end of it. 

To get rid of it, the malignant tumor must be dissected 
and followed to the last root and branch. Even then, it may 
not be done with, because the malignancy may have been 
carried to remote parts of the body by the blood and lym¬ 
phatics. 

The causes of tumors have been discussed for generations. 
Diet, injuries, continued irritation, bacteria, and an endless 
number of other factors have been suggested. 

Carcinoma, the most dreaded of the malignant tumors, is 
a terrible and all-too-common disease. In the United States 
it produces more than eighty thousand deaths annually. 

Every tumor, whether in the breast, under the arm, in 
the groin, on the skin, at the edge of the lip, at the angle of 
the eye, or anywhere else, should be made the object of an 
examination by a physician. Whether benign or malignant, 
it demands attention. 

If it is benign, the tumor is easily and completely re¬ 
moved. If it is malignant, early attention will permit of 
its successful management. Surgery, the X-ray, radium, and 
other measures are at your command. 

It is an unfortunate fact that many a sufferer has hidden 
his trouble until it was too late to treat it successfully. Early 
attention is the secret of complete recovery. 

Do not worry over a neoplasm. Do not be frightened at 
the word “tumor.’’ Be sensible about it and take profes¬ 
sional advice. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred there is a 
cure in the early stages of any tumor. 


TYPHOID FEVER 


WHAT TO DO 
To avoid an attack: 

i. Consult the doctor about inoculation. 

To treat the attack: 

i. Send for the doctor upon the appearance of unex¬ 
plainable chills, fever, feelings of discomfort, loss of 
appetite, or pain. 


/^VNE of the encouraging results of modern medicine is 
the practical elimination of typhoid fever as a cause of 
sickness and death. 

It used to be a common and terribly fatal malady. In 
civil life it was one of the most dreaded of afflictions. In 
armies it was more fatal than all the weapons of war. 

The Spanish-American War occurred about twenty-five 
years ago. Almost every regiment suffered from typhoid 
fever. Out of a hundred thousand soldiers, over twenty 
thousand had the disease, and more than fifteen hundred 
died. In the South African War more men died from typhoid 
than from the wounds of battle. 

Contrast these terrible records with conditions in the 
World War. After the protective vaccine was used, the 
prevalence of typhoid diminished to one per cent of the 
amount present in the French Army at the beginning of the 
conflict. 

We have learned the danger of impure water, of unclean 
milk, of shell-fish from polluted water, of uncooked vegetables, 
and of the house-fly. 

We have learned that “typhoid carrier s ’ 9 exist. After 
having the disease, an occasional individual will carry in his 
person the germs of typhoid and for years may be a menace 
to society. This danger is guarded against by insisting upon 
347 




348 


TYPHOID FEVER 


the examination of every typhoid patient before he is per¬ 
mitted to mingle with his fellows. 

Under present conditions, great cities are freer from 
typhoid than are the rural districts. City water and milk 
supplies are under constant sanitary supervision. Active 
health officials are guarding against contamination and in¬ 
fection. 

In every home provision should be made for pure water. 
The care of foods is of vital importance, and where the mod¬ 
ern precautions are lacking the danger of the disease exists. 

The vacation period is productive of typhoid. The sum¬ 
mer boarding-houses and the cheap hotels are the danger 
spots; here there are neglect of sanitary precautions and the 
careless use of contaminated water-supplies. 

In the fall, when they return from their outings, the city 
people bring back typhoid fever. If you have been away and 
suddenly develop vague symptoms of discomfort, fever, and 
real illness, you may suspect typhoid. Your doctor will look 
you over with this disease in mind. 

After infection, it takes from one to three weeks for the 
fever to appear. The usual period of incubation is ten to 
fourteen days. 

The patient may have the disease several days before he 
suspects he is really ill. As in almost every other disease, 
headache is usually the first symptom, although loss of appe¬ 
tite, diarrhea, or chills may usher in some cases. Again nose¬ 
bleed or pain in the stomach may give warning of trouble. 

The fever appears and for a week or so it gradually grows 
higher. As it increases, the appearance of illness grows 
apace. 

If you have traveled recently, or if you have taken water 
and milk and food from doubtful sources, view such symp¬ 
toms as this with suspicion. They may mean typhoid fever. 

It is difficult, many times even for the doctor, to determine 
positively that typhoid fever is present. The symptoms may 
be obscure and the physician at a loss to know how to handle 
the patient. In such an emergency, a blood examination may 
be made. This particular test is called the “ Widal reaction.” 


TYPHOID FEVER 


349 


The value of this test depends on the fact that typhoid 
fever produces in the blood substances which have the power 
of stopping the movements of the typhoid germs and causing 
them to collect together in masses. These substances are 
called ‘ ‘ agglutinins. ’ ’ 

Suppose there were a lot of grazing sheep scattered over 
a field. If something were thrown into the pasture causing 
the sheep to gather in one flock and, instead of moving about, 
to huddle together in a mass, this would be like the effect 
produced on the typhoid germs by the substances which de¬ 
velop in the blood during typhoid fever. 

If the typhoid germs are grown in broth, they are indi¬ 
vidually active until the agglutinating substances are added. 
Then the germs collect in clumps. To a solution containing 
typhoid bacilli is added the blood from the patient suspected 
of typhoid. In the blood of the patient are the agglutinins, 
and the clumping takes place. 

The agglutinins are not found in the very beginning of 
typhoid fever. It takes five or six days for them to develop. 

While this is not an invariable rule, yet it is pretty safe 
to assume that typhoid fever may be excluded if the agglu¬ 
tinins have not formed after nine or ten days. 

The Widal test is more reliable in children than in adults. 
The reason for this is because the agglutinins persist in the 
blood for months and even years. On this account there must 
remain the doubt as to whether the clumping is due to the 
present disease, or to an attack of typhoid recovered from a 
long time ago. 

you will see that the laboratory test taken together 
with the symptoms observed by the doctor will help him in 
determining the presence of typhoid fever. 

In the treatment of typhoid fever, diet and nnrsing are 
more important than ordinary medicines. It must be remem¬ 
bered that the patient is going to be sick a long time. On 
this account the bedroom or sick room should be a well- 
ventilated room and one which can be flooded with sunlight. 
The bed must be prepared with reference to a weak and help¬ 
less sufferer who will have several weeks of illness. 


350 


TYPHOID FEVER 


Milk and other liquid foods form a large part of the 
dietary of the typhoid patient. The milk can be given in 
the form of ice-cream, cocoa or strained soups. Jellies, 
gruels and soft eggs are useful. 

Unlimited quantities of water can be given to the typhoid 
patient. His happiness will be greatly increased if he can 
have water constantly at hand, and can frequently moisten 
his parched tongue and dry lips. Frequent bathing by spong¬ 
ing or the use of the cold pack may be employed. The baths 
are stimulating and increase the activity of the skin. Prop¬ 
erly used they reduce temperature and materially promote 
the comfort. 

Typhoid fever is a disease having many complications. 
Sometimes serious hemorrhages from the bowels take place. 
Your doctor will tell you about these and what to do in the 
emergency. I do not need to emphasize that hemorrhages in 
typhoid fever are like hemorrhages from any other cause. 
Quiet and cold compresses to the abdomen may control the 
bleeding. 

When the patient reaches the convalescent stage it is very 
important to be careful about the food. Coarse vegetables 
and heavy foods must not be given until the inflamed bowel 
has a chance to heal. It is not unusual to have relapses, and 
even after the temperature has become normal it may sud¬ 
denly shoot up and cause trouble. In such an event the pa¬ 
tient should be put back to bed and kept quiet. 

Bear in mind always that the discharges from the typhoid 
fever patient contain the germs of the disease. They must 
be dealt with in such a way as not to risk the contami¬ 
nation of other members of the family or the neighbors. In 
Part III, in the chapter on Disinfection and Fumigation, are 
given full instructions regarding this matter. 

No matter how ill the patient seems to be, with care in 
the nursing, proper selection of the food, and the admin¬ 
istration of the remedies prescribed by your doctor, there 
is every hope that a happy recovery will take place. 


ULCER OF THE STOMACH 


WHAT TO DO 
To prevent the condition: 

i. Correct constipation and digestive trouble in the 
early stages. (See chapters on Constipation, Part 
II, and Heartburn, Part I.) 

To treat the condition: 

1. Consult the doctor, who will prescribe diet, medica¬ 
tion, or surgical treatment. 

2. Have the sufferer rest in bed in a well-ventilated 
room. 

3. Give good, simple food and lots of water to drink. 


TV/TUCH more frequently than is commonly known, the 
stomach becomes ulcerated. It may be said that some 
ulcers of the stomach are no more significant than canker 
sores in the mouth. After all, however, if the health is vig¬ 
orous and the tissues of the stomach are firm and normal, 
there is no likelihood of ulceration or more serious disturb¬ 
ance. 

The stomach is a peculiarly shaped organ, lying across 
the body, with the more prominent part to the left side. It 
tapers off at the outlet, on the right side, where the contents 
pass into the beginning of the intestine—a part called the 
duodenum. 

The walls of the stomach are made up of muscular tissue. 
The muscle fibers run in different directions, making several 
thin layers. The lining of the stomach is a thick layer of 
mucous membrane. 

When an ulcer forms, it rarely extends into the walls of 
the stomach any deeper than the muscular layers. Of course, 
when it bores its way entirely through the stomach wall, pro- 

351 




352 ULCER OF THE STOMACH 

ducing a perforation, it has caused a very dangerous condi¬ 
tion. 

There are certain signs which give rise to the suspicion 
that ulcer is present. Dyspepsia is the common symptom. It 
may he very slight, but usually sickness at the stomach and 
vomiting are observed. 

The period of time after eating gives a hint of where the 
ulcer is located. If it is in the usual place, near the outlet 
of the stomach, the pain and vomiting occur two or three 
hours after taking the food. 

Pain is characteristic of ulcer. There are several dif¬ 
ferent types of pain. It may be merely a burning sensation, 
or it may be a gnawing, aching, nagging pain. Sometimes 
the discomfort is worse when the stomach is empty. At other 
times there is no pain except after eating. Pressure over the 
stomach may relieve the discomfort, but usually there is ten¬ 
derness on deep pressure. 

If the trouble continues for a long time, there is sure to 
be loss of weight. It is difficult to tell whether the ulcer 
causes the ill health, or whether ill health is responsible for 
the breakdown of the stomach lining. In any event, emacia¬ 
tion is one of the accompaniments of ulcer of the stomach. 

Of course, there are many factors entering into the pro¬ 
duction of ulcer. I am firmly of the opinion that neglect of 
the intestinal tract has much to do with those conditions of 
the stomach which lead to ulceration. 

Fermentation in the bowel and the acidity which results 
are factors of importance. Chronic constipation should not 
be neglected. The things which lead to constipation are 
capable of causing congestion of the stomach and excessive 
acidity of its contents—forerunners of trouble. 

Sometimes I think it serves folks right if they get stomach 
ulcers. Their lack of decent eating, a decent amount of labor, 
and decent hours of sleep are responsible for run-down health, 
which prepares the way for stomach trouble. 

If ulceration occurs, it may be overcome, in most instances, 
by care and good treatment. Sometimes operation is re- 


ULCER OF THE STOMACH 353 

quired, but first you should see what rest in bed, fresh air, 
well-regulated diet, and medication will do. 

I wish I could impress on every young person how essen¬ 
tial it is to build up a strong, vigorous body. Ulcer of the 
stomach, like most other diseases, is merely the result of 
neglect and abuse of the body. 

Good, simple food, lots of water to drink, fresh air, sleep, 
and mental happiness are preventives of ulcer of the stomach 
and all other ailments. 

(See also Constipation; Heartburn; Indigestion.) 


VARICOSE VEINS AND RUPTURED BLOOD-VESSELS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Have the sufferer lie down, and elevate the part. 
Use this treatment systematically. 

2. A bandage or elastic stocking to support the tissues 
will probably be advisable if the trouble is in the 
legs. 

3. Consult the family doctor. 

4. Build up the general health. 


R UPTURED blood-vessels and enlarged veins produce 
blemishes to beauty, discomfort, and even pain. 

A ruptured blood-vessel in the white of the eye seems 
most alarming to the victim and his friends. Really, bad as 
it looks, it is a matter of little importance, if due to an in¬ 
jury. If it is due to high blood pressure or weakness of the 
blood-vessel walls, it is more significant. Usually it comes 
from some sort of accident, which has caused a slight blow 
to the eye or eyelids. As a result, one of the tiny blood¬ 
vessels is cracked enough to permit a little blood to leak 
through into the tissues of the eye. 

If you place one piece of glass on another and let a drop 
of water enter between them, you know how the water will 
spread out and cover a wide area. The tissues of the eye 
are arranged in layers. A drop of blood between two layers 
will spread out exactly as the water acts between the panes 
of glass. The extent of the effusion of blood is out of pro¬ 
portion to the significance of the injury. 

With no treatment whatever, the blood will begin to ab¬ 
sorb in a few days and will have disappeared within a couple 
of weeks. It is well to have the oculist look over the eyes if 
there should be repeated attacks of the trouble without known 
cause. 

A “black eye” or a bruise anywhere on the body, with 
354 



VARICOSE VEINS 355 

discoloration of the skin, will have symptoms due to the 
escape of blood into the skin or deeper tissues. 

When they first occur, conditions of this sort are best 
treated by cold applications. Later on, the removal of the 
discoloration is hastened by hot applications and gentle mas¬ 
sage. 

Besides these conditions where the blood-vessels actually 
break, there are others where the vessels stretch. The vessel 
walls lose their elasticity and gradually dilate. In the arteries 
the resulting condition is called aneurism. If the veins dilate 
in this way, they are called varicose veins. 

The veins most commonly affected are in the lower part 
of the body, especially the legs. Usually, too, the most super¬ 
ficial veins are the ones involved. 

The only veins noticeably enlarged may be the small veins 
of the skin, on the upper part of the thigh. Here and there 
will be blue, ragged lines, as if made by a blue pencil. 

The more serious conditions are those where the veins of 
the legs between the knees and ankles are swollen, twisted, 
and knotted. These enlarged veins sometimes stand out so 
prominently and the tissues look so stretched and thin that 
we wonder why they do not break. 

Undernourished and hard-working persons, especially 
those who stand much on the feet, or walk a lot, are most 
likely to be troubled. The soldiers of the Civil War, because 
of long marches and poor food, were commonly attacked by 
varicose veins. Washerwomen or laborers of any sort who 
are on their feet most of the time are often afflicted. 

Barbers, clerks, messengers, inspectors, and the followers 
of any other calling demanding an upright position for many 
successive hours, are apt to have varicose veins. Child¬ 
bearing is a frequent cause of this condition. 

In themselves, varicose veins are not serious. Unfortu¬ 
nately, however, the skin overlying the veins may become 
inflamed. This inflammation may take the form of eczema, 
pr there may be an actual melting away of the skin, with the 
formation of an obstinate ulcer, slow to heal, and more in¬ 
clined to spread. 


356 


VARICOSE VEINS 


If there is a tendency to enlargement of the veins, and no 
ulceration or inflammation is present, the trouble should be 
overcome as much as possible by elevating the part. In some 
cases the doctor may advise gentle massage. 

This should be done systematically. In addition, it may 
be advisable to wear a bandage or an elastic stocking to 
support the tissues. The support, used without massage and 
general treatment, acts simply as a crutch and is not cura¬ 
tive. 

To get at the root of the difficulty, the body must be built 
up, the general health made as good as possible, dyspepsia 
and constipation corrected, and the general welfare given 
every consideration. The family doctor will make sure that 
the heart, kidneys, and intestines are doing their work. The 
general circulation should be stimulated by baths, gentle 
exercise, and massage. 


WARTS AND MOLES 


WHAT TO DO 
To remove warts: 

1. Apply daily to the wart, salicylic acid in alcohol or 
collodion, in the proportion of ten grains of the acid 
to one ounce of the alcohol or collodion. 

2. Use an abundance of soap and water, dry, and apply 
alum or boracic acid. 

To remove moles: 

i. Consult a doctor who may advise the electric needle, 
the X-ray, radium, or carbon dioxide snow. 


TV/TOLES are usually birthmarks, “mother’s marks,” as 
they are called. That is, the skin defect is present 
when the baby is born. Generally they grow larger as time 
passes. Coarse hairs, too, grow out from the center of the 
mole and contribute to its beauty-spoiling qualities. 

Moles vary in size from the head of a pin to the size of 
the hand. They may appear anywhere on the body. They 
are brown or almost black in color. Almost always they are 
covered with hair. 

In and of themselves, moles are of no consequence. The 
trouble about them is that in advanced life they may degen¬ 
erate and develop into malignant growths. On this account, 
it is wise to have them removed, especially if they show any 
tendency to increase in size. 

Small moles may be removed by the electric needle. The 
X-ray, radium, and dioxide snow have been successfully em¬ 
ployed in getting rid of moles. All these methods of treat¬ 
ment should be applied by a physician who is expert in their 
usage. 

A large mole may be carefully cut out and the edges 
357 




358 


WAKTS AND MOLES 


drawn together. This sounds formidable, but really it is a 
very trifling operation. 

I have told you that moles are congenital defects, but warts 
are not. They appear long after birth. 

There is a popular idea that warts come from playing with 
toads. A toad is such a wart-covered and ugly little beast 
that there is no wonder people have thought it capable of 
conveying some horrid disease. Like a lot of other popular 
ideas, this is untrue. 

Children, especially boys between ten and sixteen, are 
peculiarly liable to warts. It is probable that there is a germ 
of some sort responsible for their appearance. It may be 
planted in the site of a trifling injury and thus get a start. 

Warts are of little consequence in children, except in so 
far as they disfigure the hands. In old people they may de¬ 
generate like moles. 

If the wart is very small, it may be clipped off and iodine 
applied to the base. 

Sometimes salicylic acid is curative. It is applied in 
alcoholic solution, or it may be dissolved in collodion and 
painted on the wart. Use ten grains of the acid to one ounce 
of the alcohol or collodion. It takes some time to get results 
from these daily applications. 

The electric needle, the X-ray, radium, and carbon dioxide 
snow are used by the skin specialist. 

Cleanliness is of the greatest importance. Sometimes an 
abundance of soap and water, followed by drying and the use 
of some powder like alum or boracic acid, may be helpful. 

Left to themselves, warts disappear as if by magic. This 
tendency to spontaneous cure gives foundation to the virtues 
of certain mysterious rites which are “guaranteed’’ to cure. 


WHOOPING-COUGH 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Keep the sufferer 1 away from other children until the 
“whooping” attacks have stopped. 

2. Give a teaspoonful of honey and lemon-juice, in equal 
parts, to relieve the violence of the coughing. 

3. Keep the patient in the air and sunshine as much as 
possible. 

4. Consult the family doctor and build up the general 
health. 


W E poke fun at whooping-cough, but it is really a serious 
disease. One reason why it is dangerous is because 
it has a habit of leaving the lungs in bad condition. It makes v 
them the ready victims of secondary disease. Pneumonia, 
bronchitis, and tuberculosis are not far behind the neglected 
whooping-cough patient. 

It is natural to think of whooping-cough as exclusively a 
disease of childhood. As a matter of fact, some of the worst 
cases of this disease I ever saw have been in grown persons. 
When it attacks an elderly person, the condition must be 
viewed with genuine apprehension. 

We are always disturbed over the mere mention of the 
word epidemic. Whooping-cough appears usually in epidemic 
form. It may sweep through a school and attack every sus¬ 
ceptible person. 

Almost every winter, in every community, there will he 
a more or less serious invasion of the schools by this disease. 
It is not uncommon to have measles first and then an epi¬ 
demic of whooping-cough, or vice versa. 

Whooping-cough is believed to be due to a germ called 
the Bacillus pertussis. It is carried by the discharges of the 
throat and lungs. 


359 




360 


WHOOPING-COUGH 


The contagion may be transmitted by infected persons or 
by infected cats and dogs. 

The discharges coughed into the atmosphere or conveyed 
on soiled linen, may give the disease to another. Fourteen 
days usually elapse between exposure and the beginning of 
the attack. 

Whooping-cough in the beginning seems like an ordinary 
cold. The nose runs, and there may be some hoarseness and 
a loose cough. This stage lasts for a week or two. 

Then the “whooping” begins. There is a spasmodic 
cough, followed by deep, crowing intake of air. These at¬ 
tacks are violent and prolonged. The child feels as if he 
would die and is frightened at times. Vomiting may follow 
the attack of coughing. 

Loss of food and broken rest result in loss of flesh and a 
general run-down condition. This stage lasts about a month. 

The final period may be prolonged for several weeks. In 
this stage there are occasional coughing spells and once in 
a while a slight “whoop.” 

The disease invariably runs its regular course, but sen¬ 
sible care will lessen the severity of the paroxysms and main¬ 
tain general health. Fresh air and sunlight are the great 
essentials. Select the sunniest room and have it freely ven¬ 
tilated. Unless there is fever or some obvious reason for 
keeping him in bed, let the child play about. In good weather 
bundle him up and let him out-of-doors. 

The sufferer should be kept away from other children 
until the regular whooping spells have stopped. He should 
be taught to protect his nose and mouth while coughing, 
catching in his own handkerchief all the dangerous droplets 
of infection. 

Don’t fail to watch the little patient, and, unless he begins 
to improve in health and flesh after the second stage, have 
him carefully examined by the doctor. This cough, like every 
other cough, must not be neglected. 

Some simple cough remedy like honey and lemon may be 
soothing, but the medical treatment should be conducted by 
your doctor. 


WORMS 


WHAT TO DO 

1. Give soft food in limited quantities for two days. 

2. On the third day, give only liquids, such as milk or 
broth. 

3. Give a tablespoonful of castor oil on each of these 
three nights. 

4. If the oil does not operate freely, follow it with a 
tablespoonful of milk of magnesia in the morning. 

5. On the morning of the fourth day, give the dose 
which is to expel the worm. Consult your doctor as 
to a safe remedy. 


T T is not particularly dangerous to have worms. One might 
* be so afflicted for a long time and have very few signs of 
trouble. But when once it is known to the victim that he has 
worms he is uncomfortable and is apt to imagine all sorts of 
symptoms. 

There are two chief varieties of tapeworm. The pork 
tapeworm has a head fitted out with tiny hooks and with 
suckers. This worm can attach itself to the tissues, and with 
the suckers extract nourishment from the body of the human 
host. 

This kind of worm is called the “armed tapeworm .’ 9 It 
is rarely found in the United States, but is more frequently 
met in Panama. 

The common type of tapeworm met in America comes from 
beef eating. It is less formidable in its make-up than the 
kind I have just described. It has no hooklets, and on this 
account it is described as the 4 ‘unarmed tapeworm.” How¬ 
ever, it has suckers like the armed tape, and is capable of 
anchoring itself to the lining of the intestine. 

It is surprising to what length these worms may develop. 

361 




362 


WORMS 


Twenty or thirty feet may be reached. It would seem almost 
as if the worm would choke the bowel. These worms live at 
the expense of the human being who carries them. They do 
not possess digestive organs of their own, so, like all para¬ 
sites, they live on food they have no business to appropriate. 
Floating about in the human intestines, they seize upon ma¬ 
terial which gives them a splendid living without work. 

There is never any question about the presence of the * 
tapeworm, because sections are always passing from the 
bowel. They may be very short, or several yards may come 
away. 

Delicate and nervous persons have more signs of trouble 
from this cause than robust individuals. Chief of them is 
pain in the abdomen, or at least an aching in this region. 
There may be sickness at the stomach, sometimes vomiting 
and diarrhea. There is apt to be loss of weight and the color- < 
less appearance of anemia. 

A rather common symptom is ravenous hunger. The child 
is feeding himself and the worm, too. Loss of flesh is ob¬ 
served, in spite of the eating of excessive quantities of food. 

Whenever the worms are passed, burn them up at once. 
Do not throw them where they are capable of doing any harm 
by spreading the disease. 

In speaking of this condition, I want to make it clear to 
you that your doctor should examine the patient and decide 
whether it is safe for him to take the rather heroic treatment 
necessary. Do not overlook this precaution. Some years 
ago I was scolded by a dear old doctor friend of mine who 
said it was dangerous to give advice for this condition. He 
said somebody unfit for severe measures might die from their 
effects. 

Several drugs are used to get rid of the worms. No mat¬ 
ter which one is to be tried, the preparation is the same. It 
takes several days to get into condition for the 44 cure .’ 9 

The accepted plan is to give soft food for a couple of 
days, strictly limiting its quantity. On the third day no solid 
food should be eaten. Only liquids, like milk or broth, should 
be taken. A JT 


WORMS 363 

Every night for three nights a tablespoonful of castor 
oil should be given. If this dose does not operate freely, 
give a tablespoonful of milk of magnesia in the morning. 

On the morning of the fourth day give the dose which 
will expel the worm. Now as to wdiat particular drug is 
to be given, I beg of you to talk with your doctor. There 
may be specific reasons why this or that drug is not safe for 
the use of a certain person. Your doctor will advise you. 

The remedy usually prescribed is either the ethereal ex¬ 
tract of male fern, or pumpkin seeds. The treatment is 
a success if the head of the worm comes away with the 
worm. 

Before we knew as much about disease as we know at 
present, it was the common belief that half the complaints of 
children were due to intestinal worms. If a child ground 
his teeth, that proved he had worms. Anybody who was thin 
and plainly undernourished was suspected of harboring 
worms. 

As a matter of fact, this trouble was much more common 
in former years than it is now. The advanced regulations in 
food control are guarding us against infected and polluted 
food. There can be no doubt that governmental oversight 
of slaughter houses and of slaughtering has done much to 
lower the number of infections of this sort. The watchful 
eyes of the inspector are a great help. 

It is not uncommon, however, for children to be troubled 
with round worms, or what are known as pinworms, seat- 
worms, and threadworms. Irritability, sleeplessness, pruritis 
or itching about the bowel, grinding of the teeth, fidgets, or 
irregular and ravenous appetite should lead the parent to 
suspect their presence and to examine the feces for evidence 
of it. If found, all excrement from the child should be 
burned, and clothing, toys, toilet articles, and other things 
handled by the child should be boiled to prevent further in¬ 
fection from the eggs of the parasites. 

The dose for this condition is a simple one, consisting of 
santonin and calomel. The patient may be prepared for the 
dose in the same way as for that given fol tapeworm. It is 


364 WORMS 

not necessary, however, to remain on the light diet for more 
than twelve hours. 

Follow the dose by a tablespoonful of castor oil taken 
before breakfast. 

Rectal injections of salt or quassia seeds taken after the 
oil acts, will also prove beneficial. Use two teaspoonfuls of 
salt or one ounce of the seeds to a pint of warm water. 


PART III 

GENERAL ADVICE 







WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR 


rpHERE is a French proverb reading like this: “When a 
* man is dead, it is no use calling in the doctor.’’ 

Surveys of certain counties in America prove that hun¬ 
dreds of families rarely, if ever, call a doctor. Unfortunately, 
there are plenty of families too poor to pay large fees to pri¬ 
vate physicians, but they are not the ones who suffer. These 
persons have the good sense to go to clinics and dispensaries 
where, without monetary reward, the ablest physicians of the 
community give medical advice. In consequence, the lowest 
illness and death rates are not found among the poor. For 
instance, the densest area of population on earth is a group 
of ten blocks on the east side of New York City. This area 
showed during a recent year a death rate among babies of 
fifty-two per thousand, while the rest of the city had a death 
rate of eighty-five. 

There can be but one explanation for this: The poor people 
trust the hospitals and the health authorities. They go to the 
baby health stations for advice. 

The death rate of a community depends largely on the 
quality of the medical service rendered. Where the doctors 
are and where they are patronized by the population, there 
the death rate is lowest. The time to call a doctor is in the 
beginning of illness. 

If you owned a full jeweled and time-striking watch, 
you wouldn’t tamper with its machinery or give it over to a 
blacksmith if it failed to run. You might shake the watch and 
in a gentle manner try to coax it into activity. But if these 
harmless efforts failed, you would take it to a watchmaker. 
In the choice of a watch repairer, you would take advice or 
would go to a man of established reputation. 

Why treat your body with any less consideration? 

You should know all you can about your body. The more 
you know about the simple methods of treatment the better. 
But when you are in doubt, “play safe”—see your doctor. 

367 


368 WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR 

It should be your rule of life to learn how to keep your 
body from disease. When you live right, you won’t get sick. 
Sickness is the result of your mistakes, or is due to the neglect 
of somebody else to protect you from disease. 

One of the first questions the doctor asks you is: “How 
do you think you got this way?” Almost always you can give 
a pretty definite answer. 

You have overeaten or have eaten the wrong food, you 
have lost sleep from worry or from apparent necessity, you 
have neglected to exercise and to care for your body needs, 
you have exposed yourself to the germs of infection. 

Knowing how to live, it is your own fault if you neglect 
the rules of the game. When you are penalized you have no 
right to complain. 

But if you are sick, no matter what may be the cause, 
you require as good care as you would give your watch. Go 
to your doctor, if you have one. If you have no doctor, find 
one in whom you can confide. 

You may say, “I am too poor to pay a doctor.” If you 
live in a city, there is no excuse for lack of treatment on ac¬ 
count of poverty. There are any number of clinics where 
treatment is free, or where it may be obtained for a dime. 

Almost every state or county has some sort of an official 
or official body whose business it is to inspect and approve 
all public clinics and hospitals. They are under official con¬ 
trol, and, therefore, may be considered reliable places to go 
for treatment. In one of these you should get as good treat¬ 
ment as you would in the private office of the best doctor in 
town. 

If you get a cinder in your eye, you poke at it and have 
one of your friends try to pick it out. The corner of a hand¬ 
kerchief none too clean, a match whittled to a point, or a hair- 
pin may be employed. 

You have a pimple on your face and dig it with a pin. 
You pinch it with soiled fingers. 

No wonder you get an infection and endanger your eye¬ 
sight or your life by such carelessness. 

You take cold and go about your affairs half sick for a 


WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR 369 

day or two. You land in the hospital with a serious case of 
bronchitis or even pneumonia. 

Whenever you have a temperature which persists after 
any acute intestinal trouble has been corrected; whenever 
you have a rash the cause of which is unknown to you; or 
whenever you have any symptom which you do not under¬ 
stand, lose no time in calling the doctor. 

It takes more sense to call a doctor than to call an under¬ 
taker. The dullest idiot in the neighborhood knows that a 
dead man needs a coffin, but it takes brains to call a doctor 
when he is needed. 

You don’t have the blacksmith draw up your legal papers. 
You never ask the milkman to plaster your house. But when 
it comes to illness or injury people run to anybody for help, 
forgetting the doctor until, in many cases, it is too late. The 
doctor cannot perform miracles. When a man is dead, it is 
no use calling in the doctor. Make the doctor your friend and 
confide in him at all times. It is well to have an examination 
made by him once or twice a year, to take stock of your gen¬ 
eral condition. 


GENERAL ADVICE IN FIRST AID 


S UCH wonderful results have been had by modern sur¬ 
geons that it seems odd there should be any present-day 
necessity for arguing in favor of cleanliness—surgical clean¬ 
liness. But, even now, there are many who think the pains¬ 
taking care of the surgeon is all nonsense. 

It is all too common a practice for a man injured in a 
factory or on the street to receive well-intentioned first aid 
from his fellow-workmen or from a bystander. 

A year or two ago I saw a woman faint and fall on the 
pavement in one of the cities of England. I took charge, be¬ 
ing the only doctor at hand, and the chief service I rendered 
the victim of the accident was to keep off her bleeding face 
the filthy salve one man offered and the liniment tendered 
by another. I am confident I spared her additional infection 
and confined the trouble to such germs as the streets of Bir¬ 
mingham possess. 

The average layman has his favorite first-aid remedy, and 
many a man carries it with him. Do you know that many 
such remedies, unless they are freshly prepared, are homes 
for the growth of germs? It makes me shiver to see what 
vile stuff is plastered or poured on the damaged human body. 
Eye-drops are kept in the house for years, and when an eye 
is inflamed it is drowned in a bath of germ-filled poison. 

I was on the witness stand a while ago testifying regard¬ 
ing the home treatment of a damaged eye. The Judge seemed 
to think me a heretic when I characterized the application of 
bread-and-milk poultice as a crime against the body. 44 Why,’’ 
he said, “my mother used that whenever one of her children 
was hurt.” “So did mine,” I replied, “but the dear souls 
were wrong!” I am sure the Judge considers me very un- 
filial, if not actually unscientific. 

The value of such a poultice is the good which comes from 

370 


GENERAL ADVICE IN FIRST AID 371 

the application of heat. Unfortunately, there is not heat 
enough to do much good, but there is enough to permit the 
growth of endless colonies of germs, some of which may be 
pus-producing. Then the poultice softens and moistens the 
tissues so that the germs have prepared for them an easy 
place of entrance into the body. 

A ten per cent solution of argyrol, or other similar silver 
salt, may be dropped in the eye, if it is damaged. This is far 
better than any poultice ever made. 

For cuts of the hands or other skin surface apply a three 
per cent solution of iodine. 

Keep the affected parts free from infection by cleansing 
at least once a day with peroxide and water, half and half, 
or with hot water and pure castile soap. 

A piece of gauze, linen, or muslin will protect against the 
entrance of dirt or other germs. This may be gently applied 
and kept in place with a bandage. 

Never handle or touch a wounded surface until your hands 
have been thoroughly washed with soap and an abundance of 
water. Unless this care is exercised, the fingers or finger¬ 
nails may carry into the wound enough grease or dirt to cause 
destruction of any amount of tissue. 

Let a wounded and bleeding surface be treated as a 
sacred thing. This may seem ridiculous to some, but I assure 
you that nothing is better established than the importance 
of surgical cleanliness. Never tamper or fuss with, or pick 
at, a cut or sore. Keep it clean, protect it from outside con¬ 
tamination, and you will have done much to hasten healing. 

Some years ago a group of doctors to which I belong 
studied the problem of instructing laymen in first-aid pro¬ 
cedures, and worked out the contents of such a first-aid outfit 
as might properly be given into lay hands. 

The first advice we decided should be given was this: The 
person rendering first aid must not consider himself a sub¬ 
stitute for the physician. He should do only the absolutely 
necessary things to preserve life or promote comfort until 
the doctor can take charge of the case. 

In this household kit should be several bottles of drugs, 


372 GENERAL ADVICE IN FIRST AID 

These may be two-ounce bottles. Each should be plainly 
labeled. The names and uses of the drugs are as follows: 

1. Iodine, a three per cent alcoholic solution. This should 
be dropped into a wound if the skin is broken. Also a seven 
per cent solution, to paint around a wound or over a bruise. 

2. White wine vinegar. In bums from alkalies, like plas- 
ter, potash, lime, and ammonia, the parts should be flooded 
with vinegar, which neutralizes the alkali. 

3. Boracic acid, a four per cent solution in water. In 
burns or injuries to the eye, this solution may be used freely 
to wash out the eye. 

4. Aromatic spirits of ammonia. In fainting, after con¬ 
sciousness has returned, or when one feels faint, one-half a 
teaspoonful in half a glassful of water may stimulate the 
heart and hasten recovery. 

5. Jamaica ginger. In chilling, or for an actual chill, a 
teaspoonful may be given as a stimulant. It is useful, too, in 
cramps or colic. 

6. Bicarbonate of soda, a three per cent solution! in 
water. For an acid burn, the affected parts should be flooded 
with this solution. 

7. Castor Oil. In constipation a dose of a tablespoonful 
may be given. 

8. Besides these bottles of liquids, there should be a jar 
or tube of ‘ * burn ointment. ’ ’ This is a three per cent mixture 
of bicarbonate of soda in vaseline. After any burn from heat, 
from acid, or from electricity, the parts should be cleansed 
and smeared with this ointment. Then squares of gauze 
should be laid over the burned places and held in position by 
a bandage. 

9. A teaspoon and several paper cups should be included 
in the outfit. The spoon is used to give the medicine, and the 
cups may be employed as little basins to hold the fluids needed 
in dressing the wound. 

10. A medicine glass, marked with the liquid measure¬ 
ments, will be useful at times. Two or three medicine drop¬ 
pers are needed. 



GENERAL ADVICE IN FIRST AID 373 

11. Half a dozen tongue depressers and a few wooden 
applicators will be good things to add. 

12. Adhesive plaster, a small roll, one inch wide, and a 
roll two inches wide. In closing wounds, keeping dressings in 
place, or strapping foot or chest, the adhesive will be found 
invaluable. 

13. Absorbent cotton, a two-ounce package, should be in 
the kit. 

14. Bandages. There should be at least a half-dozen rolls 
of bandages, one, two, and three inches wide. If these are 
five or ten yards long, you will always have plenty of bandage 
material for any emergency. 

15. Several packages of gauze, six inches wide and sev¬ 
eral yards long. This material is an important part of any 
surgical dressing. 

16. A piece of flannel, two or three feet square, will be 
very useful if hot applications are demanded. It can be used, 
too, as a sling, if necessary. It will be well, also, to have a 
triangular piece of cloth for use as a sling in case of a broken 
arm. 

17. A dozen safety pins of various sizes. These will 
fasten the bandages. 

18. A tourniquet is required to control bleeding. For this 
purpose a piece of small rope, twine, or a specially made rub¬ 
ber binder may be used. There are several very simple de¬ 
vices of this sort to be had at drug stores and surgical supply 
houses. Of course, the rope or twine tied about the limb, 
above the bleeding vessel, and twisted tight by a piece of 
wood inserted under the string, will do the work, but the 
specially made tourniquet has a fastener to hold it when once 
applied. 

19. A pair of scissors to cut the bandages and gauze, and 
a pair of simple forceps will complete the equipment. 

All these things should be kept in one place. If they are in 
a box or basket, they can be carried to the place where they 
are needed. The Conference Board of Physicians recom¬ 
mended that all these supplies be kept in a glass-covered glass 


374 


GENERAL ADVICE IN FIRST AID 


jar. This keeps them dry and free from dust. More par¬ 
ticularly, the transparent jar is desirable because you can see 
through the sides and top and thus locate the needed article 
at once. In the confusion of accident or emergency, it helps a 
lot if there is not the slightest delay in getting the things you 
need. 


CARE OF THE SICK AT HOME 


I F you must be sick, go to a hospital, if possible. If you can¬ 
not go to a hospital, then your sick-room at home must 
be converted into the nearest possible approach to a hospital 
room. 

You will recall that hospital rooms and wards are bare of 
all adornment. There are no gimcracks, rugs, or other dust¬ 
collecting objects. 

The sick-room should be prepared by taking down the cur¬ 
tains and hangings. Remove the heavy furniture. Take all 
the knicknacks off the dresser, and eliminate everything that 
interferes with cleaning and dusting. 

Use a damp cloth for dusting purposes, so that the air 
will be kept clean and pure. 

The windows must be made to move up and down easily. 
The patient should be protected against direct drafts. To 
this end, it may be well to provide a muslin screen for each 
window. This is made by stretching a piece of thin muslin 
over a frame which fits the window. 

In fly-time, it is needless to say, the window has mosquito 
netting, or some other kind of screening, to keep out insects. 
Over each window a dark shade should be placed, so that the 
amount of light may be controlled. 

The bed should be so placed that the nurse or attendant 
may walk around both sides. It should be located with refer¬ 
ence to the window, so that the light will not shine into the 
eyes of the patient. It is a joy, however, to a sick person to 
be able to look out of the window. Views of the outside 
world assist his recovery. 

The door should have the hinges oiled and be provided 
with a lock. In making the dressings and bathing the patient 
there are times when privacy is demanded. 

There may be limitations as to the amount of help in the 

375 


376 CARE OF THE SICK AT HOME 

household. One person may be nurse, cook, chambermaid, 
and orderly. Even so, the patient’s tray must be daintily 
served. The food is one of the most important items in the 
essentials of speedy recovery. A sick person has an appetite 
which must be coaxed. With no exercise and with the effects 
of the disease, there is no longing for meal-time. A limited 
number of pretty dishes, a clean napkin, and a flower on the 
tray will add to the happiness and promote the recovery of 
the sick one. 

When the patient is able to sit up, he should have a com¬ 
fortable chair, a pillow for the small of the back, and be so 
placed as to get a new view of the outer world. If possible, 
get him into another room on these occasions. Don’t let him 
sit up too long. Wrap his legs and knees in a blanket. A 
low stool will keep the feet off the drafty and cold floor. 

Hot-water bottles, extra pillows, and a bed jacket will 
help amazingly in increasing comfort. 

Don’t forget about the joys of tinkling ice in a palatable 
drink of some sort. A jaded appetite may be stimulated in 
this way. 

The patient’s bath is one of the most important features 
of his treatment. Do you know how to bathe a sick person? 
You must close the windows and let the room get warm. Then 
get all the needed things together. A small table or a chair 
should be placed near the bed. Spread over this a clean towel. 
Place on it a basin, wash-bowl, or milk-pan. Also have a 
pitcher of hot water, a cake of soap on a dish, two towels, and 
a wash-rag. 

Protect the bed from wetting by stretching beneath the 
patient a clean blanket or bath towel. This is easily done 
by rolling the patient to one side, placing the blanket, and 
rolling him back into his original position. 

Remove unnecessary overbedding, leaving just enough to 
keep the patient comfortable. Bathe and dry one limb at a 
time, leaving the rest of the body covered. Wash the back 
last. 

The bathing being completed, remove the protecting 
blanket and replace the nightgown. Stir up the pillow, take 


377 


CARE OF THE SICK AT HOME 

the wrinkles out of the sheet by pulling, keep the room quiet, 
and very soon the patient will probably fall asleep. 

If the doctor should order a foot-bath, this does not 
mean that the patient is to get out of bed to have it. The bed¬ 
clothes may be loosened from the foot of the bed, the mattress 
and sheet protected by a rubber sheet, or by a towel wrapped 
over a few layers of newspapers. Then place the foot-tub or 
pan in the bed and fill it a third full with water, warm or hot, 
as the doctor directs. 

After twenty minutes or a half-hour, the pan may be re¬ 
moved. In the meantime, the water must be kept at uniform 
temperature by frequent addition of a little hot water, taking 
care not to burn the patient. Dry the feet and rub briskly 
with a rough towel. 

This method keeps the bed dry and protects the patient 
against cold. 

If the patient is able to move, he may be assisted to a near¬ 
by bath-room, provided the doctor permits. Watch the sick 
person, help him in and out of the tub, do not allow him to 
remain too long in the water, and make sure his strength is 
not overtaxed. 

When the patient gets back to bed, place a hot-water bottle 
at his feet, and give him a warm drink. 

There should be frequent sponging of the hands and face. 
This adds amazingly to the comfort of a sick person. If he 
has fever, cold sponging lowers the temperature and relieves 
the aching head. 

Before each meal, wash his hands and clean the finger- 
nails, to make sure the food is handled with clean hands. 

The teeth should be cleaned at least twice a day, and the 
hair combed at regular intervals. 

Cleanliness of the sick person will shorten his illness and 
promote his comfort. 


TRANSPORTING THE HELPLESS 

W HEN you have occasion to get a sick or injured person 
to his bed you may be at a loss how to proceed. Per¬ 
haps you may find an unconscious or half-conscious person 
by the roadside. You may be in the woods or fields when 
something happens to one of your companions. How are you 
to get the victim home or to a proper place for treatment? 

If the distance is great, there must be some sort of vehicle. 
The cushioned seat of an automobile, or a wagon with a layer 
of straw or hay in the bottom, will serve splendidly. In their 
absence, you must provide a stretcher or a litter. 

A satisfactory litter can be made in one of several ways. 
A coat or two coats, for instance, can be made useful. Turn 
the sleeves wrong side out and button the coat. Get two poles 
or sticks, run them through the reversed sleeves, and you have 
a short litter, or stretcher. Add another coat, fastening the 
collar of one to the tail of the other, and you have a device 
which will safely carry a child or a light adult. 

Grain bags can be made into splendid stretchers by making 
holes in the corners, and inserting poles heavy enough to sup¬ 
port the weight of the helpless person. A blanket may be 
used for the same purpose. Spread it smoothly on the ground. 
Place poles at the edges of the blanket, on opposite sides. Roll 
the blanket around each pole until the poles are eighteen to 
twenty inches apart. Then they must be secured by tying 
with strips of cloth or rope, or by nailing the blanket to the 
poles. It will help a lot if cross pieces of wood are nailed or 
tied to the poles to keep them in a proper position. 

A ladder, a bench, a door, a shutter, a wide board—any 
substantial thing which is properly padded with clothing, 
blankets, boughs of trees, or leaves—will offer a suitable 
means of moving the sick or injured person. 

378 


TRANSPORTING THE HELPLESS 


379 


Now let me give you a word of advice. Ho not place the 
victim on your improvised stretcher until you have tried it 
yourself, or had somebody test it. You don’t want to give the 
unconscious person an injury which would be worse than the 
original trouble. 


EXAMINING THE URINE 


T HERE are several things everybody should have done 
on occasions. One of these is to have the urine examined 
at least once a year. 

I am sure you all know how important this procedure is 
to persons past middle life. It is just as important to young 
adults and to children. 

In the first half of life it is not so vital to have periodical 
health inspections, provided the health is reasonably good. 
But if there is undernourishment, skin disease, bad color, of¬ 
fensive breath, habitual headache, or frequent nausea, the 
urine should be examined. 

I am not giving you this thought on the theory that you 
may have kidney disease or some other dreadful condition. I 
am suggesting it because examination of the urine may lead 
to some good advice about the things you eat, your failure to 
drink sufficient water, or other neglect of your body. 

Sometime when the urine is to be examined, ask your 
doctor if you may see it tested. After you witness the delicate 
chemical and physical tests and the study made of its ingredi¬ 
ents under the microscope, you will have added respect for a 
profession which never rests, because of its desire to conquer 
disease. 

The urine is tested to see whether it is acid or alkaline. It 
should be acid, and if it is found to be alkaline, a study of 
your habits will be made to find out what is wrong. 

The specific gravity is taken. Pure water is taken as the 
standard and counted as 1000. The greater the solution of 
solids in the urine, the higher is the specific gravity. If this 
degree of solid content varies materially from the normal, it 
means a lot to the doctor. 

For instance, if the test of the urine shows the solid con¬ 
tent to be low, it may mean that waste materials, which should 
be eliminated, are being dammed up in the system. 

380 


EXAMINING THE URINE 


381 


Of course, the percentage of solids in a sample of urine 
varies with the intake of fluids. The more water you take, the 
lower will be the specific gravity. 

There are certain diseased conditions, however, in which 
the flow of urine may be profuse and yet the specific gravity 
of every sample is high. For instance, in diabetes, a disease 
we are hearing a lot about these days, the specific gravity is 
very high. It may run to 1030 or even to 1045. 

The color of the urine, the nature of the deposit, and even 
the odor are important in forming conclusions as to the health 
and vigor of the individual. 

The microscope shows other things. The microscopic 
field may reveal tissue or substance, possibly telling a sad 
story of changes within the body. 

Heating the urine or adding certain chemicals will disclose 
other things having some bearing on the health, or making 
clear to the doctor what advice should be given. 

The purpose of all these tests is not to find out that you 
are hopelessly ill, but to find out how to restore you to per¬ 
fect health, or how to keep you well. To dodge the doctor is 
not a smart thing to do. On the contrary it is very stupid. 
Let him find out exactly what is wrong with you, and ninety- 
nine times out of a hundred he will find a way to cure you. 


PRENATAL INSTRUCTION 


T T is said that in the United States sixteen thousand women 
died from the effects of childbirth in a recent year. That is 
a terrible toll of life imposed upon the noblest of human be¬ 
ings, the prospective mothers of the country. 

The same day I came upon these figures, I read that Vassar 
College had established a new department, devoted to home 
making and child training. Speaking of this department, 
President Henry N. McCracken said: “In the education of 
men technical and vocational schools have been established 
in virtually every field of endeavor, while up to the present 
time the work of training women as home managers and for 
their responsibilities in raising children has not been ap¬ 
proached in a thoroughly scientific manner.’ ’ 

There is an intimate relationship existing between these 
two statements. Lack of education for motherhood is re¬ 
sponsible for many needless deaths. Nowhere else is human 
experience and knowledge so important. 

I assume that Vassar’s course relates more to the educa¬ 
tion of the prospective child than it does to the education of 
the prospective mother in her own needs, physical as well as 
mental. If I may be permitted to suggest to the faculty, I 
urge that there be included in the curriculum thorough in¬ 
struction in the physical aspect of motherhood. 

I shall never forget the impression made upon me several 
years ago when a well-known woman doctor said that pre¬ 
natal instruction would result in the saving of twenty per 
cent of the babies who now die. If anything can be more im¬ 
portant than this, it is that prenatal instruction could save 
a large per cent of the mothers who now die. 

We must not stop until means of imparting this knowledge 
have been devised. Not until then can the public share the 
serenity and confidence of the mother. It should be a matter 
of common understanding that childbirth is not to be ap- 

m 


PRENATAL INSTRUCTION 383 

proached without medical examination and advice from the 
beginning of pregnancy. 

Recognizing the delicacy and embarrassment of speaking 
about these holy things, it must be understood by every wife 
that her own precious life and the welfare of her babe depend 
on her physique and the strength of her organs. Heart, 
lungs, kidneys, and blood-vessels, as well as the bony and 
muscular formation of her body, determine her fitness for 
maternity. Proper advice at the right time will result in the 
correction of a defect which might prove fatal if left to itself. 

In this matter, as in everything else, knowledge is power. 


FEEDING AND CARE OF THE BABY 


T HERE is no difference of opinion in all the world as to 
the wisdom of breast-feeding. Fortunate, indeed, is the 
baby who is so blessed. It gives a child the best sort of a start 
towards health, growth, and vigor. 

Cow’s milk properly modified is an acceptable substitute 
for mother’s milk, but yet, like all substitutes, it is open to 
certain objections. Chief of these is the difficulty of getting 
fresh and pure milk. 

Certainly nothing can be more gratifying to the maternal 
instinct than to be given the inestimable privilege of nursing 
her baby. To spend herself for her child is the inborn desire 
of every mother. It is a sad experience when, for any reason, 
the child cannot be nursed. Yet, there are times when breast¬ 
feeding is out of the question. Certain conditions make it im¬ 
perative to discontinue the breast. Needless to say, this 
should not be recommended unless there are well-defined and 
positive reasons for advising it. 

So important is this subject that volumes have been written 
on the indications for discontinuing breast-feeding. The 
medical profession has formed definite conclusions regarding 
it. 

In the first place, let me consider the mother herself: 
Unfortunately, not every mother is well, strong, and 
free from disease and physical disabilities which might be 
transmitted to her child. She may appear perfectly well up 
to the birth of her baby and then suddenly show some ailment 
which could have disastrous effects upon the infant. 

The nursing mother seems endowed with special powers 
of resistance against acute diseases. In spite of this, some 
acute infectious diseases, like pneumonia, influenza, or typhoid 
fever, may so reduce her as to make it impossible to nurse the 
baby, even if it were safe to endanger the child by continuing 
the breast. 


384 


385 


FEEDING AND CARE OF THE BABY 

Bright’s disease, tuberculosis, cancer, anemia, or serious 
blood disease—any one of these contracted by the mother— 
would demand cessation of breast-feeding. 

It is a question whether or not epilepsy, convulsions, or 
some other nervous or mental disturbance should be sufficient 
reason for stopping the mother’s milk. This must be deter¬ 
mined on the merits of the individual case. 

Should the mother become pregnant during the suckling 
period, it is wise to wean the baby, because nourishment is 
needed by another little life. 

After all, the supreme test is the child itself. The physical 
prosperity of the infant is the important thing. If he stops 
gaining weight, suffers continuously from diarrhea and vomit¬ 
ing, or begins to lose weight, something is wrong. These 
symptoms do not call for instant change in the feeding, but 
they demand investigation. Unless regulation of the hours 
of feeding and the quantity of milk given bring about restora¬ 
tion to health, then it is essential to consider artificial feed¬ 
ing, either as a substitute for the breast or to supplement it. 

A last and natural reason for stopping breast-feeding is 
the advanced age of the infant. Ordinarily, weaning should 
take place not later than the twelfth month, and usually it 
should be earlier than this. 

The welfare of the baby is of first importance. The health 
of the mother cannot be disregarded. Common sense must 
govern, and each case must be studied to find just what is 
best for both. 

After nine months of age, the average bottle-fed baby 
should be fed five times a day. These feedings should be made 
every four hours, from 6 A. M. to 10 P. M. The baby should 
sleep from ten o’clock at night till six in the morning. 

It is understood, of course, that plain cow’s milk is unsuit¬ 
able for baby-feeding. It must be “modified,” as the process 
is called, in order to make it a proper substitute for mother’s 
milk. In the process of modification, water, sugar of milk, 
lime-water, and perhaps other ingredients are added. The 
exact proportions must be given the mother by a doctor or at 
the baby health station. You must not depend upon this 


386 FEEDING AND CARE OF THE BABY 

formula, because it may not suit the needs of your baby, but at 
nine months of age and during the next three months, the 
average baby will consume in twenty-four hours this quantity 
and mixture of food: Whole milk, thirty-two ounces; barley 
water, ten ounces; sugar of milk, two ounces; lime-water, 
three ounces. 

Barley water is made by boiling an ounce of barley flour 
for thirty minutes in a quart of water, then adding to the 
barley gruel enough plain boiled water to make the mixture an 
even quart. 

You will observe that the lime-water, milk, and barley- 
water mixture aggregates forty-five ounces of fluid. This is 
divided into five feedings of nine ounces each, and is given as 
directed. 

During these three months, if the child is normal, he may 
have a little extra food at ten in the morning. This will con¬ 
sist of a well-cooked cereal of the finer grain, or strained oat¬ 
meal. Over this may be poured a part of the prepared milk. 
At the two o’clock feeding, he may have two or three tea¬ 
spoonfuls of beef juice to which dried bread crumbs or crumbs 
of “zwieback” have been added. 

It is particularly important, if pasteurized milk is used, to 
give the infant a little orange juice every day. Two or three 
teaspoonfuls of strained juice will be enough to furnish the 
necessary vitamines. 

The feedings must be given with the regularity of clock¬ 
work. No matter how tiresome it may be, there must be no 
lapse in this matter. Even a half-hour makes a difference. 

If the baby is inclined to constipation, he may be given a 
teaspoonful of olive oil night and morning. 

At this age the baby should have an abundance of rest 
and sleep. Don’t worry about it if he sleeps most of the time. 

The growth and vigor of the child are the measures of his 
physical prosperity. 

Even when the proper formula has been prescribed, it will 
not accomplish the purpose unless it is properly prepared. It 
is not properly prepared unless with painstaking care and in¬ 
finite pains the mother adheres to the very letter of the law. 


FEEDING AND CARE OF THE BABY 387 

Your father and mother, and certainly your grandparents, 
are likely to laugh at the “germ theory/’ But, even though 
they deny the scientific foundations of the accepted theory of 
disease, they will not reject the old saying that “cleanliness 
is next to godliness/’ I am sure no one doubts the import¬ 
ance of clean hands, clean utensils, clean milk. We do not 
need to argue about germs. We can agree that absolute clean¬ 
liness is necessary to keep baby well. 

When you can fruit, whether or not you boil it, you put it 
in cans which have been scalded. If you fail in any step, you 
know the can-stuff spoils. Something happens which makes it 
deadly to eat. Bear these things in mind when you are pre¬ 
paring the food for your baby. His little stomach is very 
delicate. His hold on life is not very tight. He cannot resist 
disease as we can. 

Everything used in preparing the milk and all the food 
and drink baby is to have must be boiled and handled with 
clean hands. They must be kept in a clean place, away from 
all casual contacts, and must not be touched by anybody ex¬ 
cept yourself or some one assigned and instructed for this 
duty. 

After it has been prepared, baby’s food is put into feeding- 
bottles, which have been thoroughly boiled. The bottles are 
stopped with clean absorbent cotton and put on ice till needed. 
Not more than enough for one day’s feeding should be pre¬ 
pared. 

When time for the feeding has arrived, a bottle is placed on 
the stove in a pan of warm water and heated to body tempera¬ 
ture. This can be tested by shaking a drop of the milk on the 
back of your hand. 

When the formula is properly warmed, a rubber nipple is 
placed on the bottle. The nipple has been boiled in the morn¬ 
ing and placed in a boracic acid solution which, in its turn, has 
been previously boiled. 

All this, dear Mother, means trouble and time, but the 
abounding health of your infant is reward enough, isn’t it? 

The second half of this stage of life, the period from 
eighteen months to three years of age, is much less critical 


388 FEEDING AND CAEE OF THE BABY 

than the first half. But it is a time when any neglect will re¬ 
sult in weakening the foundation upon which strong and 
healthy adult life must be erected. 

After the first half of the period of infancy has passed, 
the child can settle down to the conventional three meals a 
day. I don’t know why we eat three times a day. Perhaps 
twice a day would be just as well, or four times a day better, 
but we have accustomed ourselves to three meals, and I sup¬ 
pose till the end of time it will be “the thing” to sit down to 
table thrice daily. 

“The test of the pudding is in the eating,” and the test of 
proper feeding is in the growth and development of the body. 
If the food is properly selected, three regular meals, given 
with clocklike promptness, will insure health and well-being 
to infant or adult. 

Many children are ruined in health and temper by over¬ 
feeding. Food should not be given between meals. Such in¬ 
dulgence ruins the appetite for the regular meal. Usually 
the stuff administered between times is pastry or some other 
equally improper thing. The result is the baby toys with 
the food at his stated meal. Failing to get the proper nourish¬ 
ment, it is not long before the child shows the natural effects, 
and malnutrition replaces normal health. 

Cooking for babies of this age is a fine art. We have 
reached the period when we must think about the develop¬ 
ment of teeth and must supply the mineral substances essen¬ 
tial to their formation. It is a great pity that quantities of in¬ 
valuable body, bone, and tooth-building material are thrown 
away in almost every kitchen. 

In cooking vegetables, the water in which they are boiled 
absorbs the mineral substances of the skin and coverings. 
Too often the water is drained off, and thus the iron and other 
minerals are lost. This is a mistake. The right way, in cook¬ 
ing for the child, is to use the smallest amount of water pos¬ 
sible and then, when the boiling is sufficient, to lift the cover 
and let the water evaporate. This will leave the minerals in 
the food. 

All cooked vegetables must be thoroughly mashed, so 'as 


FEEDING AND CARE OF THE BABY 


389 


not to leave any hard lumps which the child is unprepared to 
masticate until he has teeth enough to chew the food. Of 
course, after he is two or two and a half years old he will get 
on very well, because he will have teeth enough then to do 
good work with them. 

It is difficult to lay down any definite rules as regards the 
food to be given a child of this age. Conditions of season or 
climate vary. The following may be taken as something of a 
standard, subject to numerous variations: 

Breakfast: The child may have one egg or some hashed 
chicken. Instead, a little bacon may be given on some days. 
Dry bread and as much milk as he will take—within reason, 
of course—complete the meal. 

Dinner: He may be given chicken or fish, with a little baked 
potato or other vegetable; dry bread; and milk. Dessert of 
apple sauce, baked apple, sliced orange, custard, a pudding of 
some sort, and occasionally ice-cream may end the meal. 

Supper: At this meal a cream soup may be given, dry 
bread and milk, scraped fruit, and occasionally, in season, ripe 
and sweet berries. 

Except in case of illness, this program should not be varied 
materially. If there is great demand for food between times, 
a glass of milk or scraped fruit may be given. 

Every baby should have water between feedings. It must 
be pure water, made so by boiling and cooling. 

Without water, the intestines and kidneys are not properly 
flushed. As a result the baby is not sweet. There is a sour 
smell. The urine is highly colored and irritating, causing 
scalding of the buttocks and surrounding parts. 

The lack of water results in constipation. There must be 
an abundance of fluid to dissolve the waste products and to 
carry them away from the body. 

The omission of water from the dietary places unfair labor 
upon the kidneys. Their work is sadly interfered with if the 
urine is scanty and concentrated. Continual neglect may 
cause kidney trouble and other serious conditions. 

Nobody need be afraid of pure water. It is necessary to 
infant health, it is vital to adult health. Try the magic of fre- 


390 


FEEDING AND CARE OF THE BABY 


quent drinks of water. Many a crying baby will become quiet 
and happy if he is given a drink. Even colic will disappear if 
a little warm water is given. 

One of the most common ailments of babies and young chil¬ 
dren, especially in summer, is constipation. In the nursing 
baby this is, as a rule, caused by the mother’s own condition 
and her diet. The anxiety of the mother to have sufficient 
milk for the baby causes her to eat heartily of milk-produc¬ 
ing foods. This change from the routine soon causes consti¬ 
pation in the mother and naturally affects the nursing baby. 
In warm weather the mother’s diet should include plenty of 
fresh milk and eggs, fresh green vegetables, and fresh and 
stewed fruits. She should drink plenty of water and keep as 
calm and cool as possible. 

All babies should be given orange juice from the first few 
weeks. Begin by giving one teaspoonful, strained, before the 
first feeding. As the baby grows older, the amount is grad¬ 
ually increased. At one year of age the child should have the 
juice of half an orange every day. 

Keep the baby clothed to suit the weather. A clean shirt 
and dry diapers are all that are necessary on a hot day. Keep 
the crib or carriage covered with mosquito netting. 

Bottle-fed babies are more often constipated than nursing 
babies. As a rule, the feeding is at fault. Have your doctor 
modify the formula. 

When the baby is old enough to hold on a commode, much 
can be accomplished towards regular bowel movements. Put 
the child on the commode each day at a stated time, preferably 
just before the bath. Suppositories of glycerine will start the 
movement, and if used for the first few days only, they are 
very helpful in training the child to have regular movements. 

The diet for older children should include orange, prune 
or tomato juice, coarse cereals, whole wheat, graham or bran 
bread, vegetables having bulk, such as celery, string beans, 
peas, and carrots, also stewed and fresh fruit. 


DISINFECTION AND FUMIGATION 


A MONG the important things to keep in mind when taking 
care of a case of contagions or infectious disease is to 
prevent the trouble being communicated to others. 

To an uninstructed person this may seem a very difficult 
matter, but it is quite simple. It does, however, require the 
strictest attention to a few rules. The reason it is so hard 
for many homekeepers to observe these rules is that so few 
of us realize what it means to be exact. 

While the rules for disinfecting a sick-room are simple, 
the nurse who is to enforce them must be one hundred per 
cent efficient. One simple lapse from the path of perfection 
may mean another case of illness in the family. 

Suppose a child or other member of the family has measles, 
scarlet fever, diphtheria, or other contagious disease. Of 
course the sick one will be strictly isolated. 

But this is not enough. All tableware and other things 
used by the patient, as well as clothes and toilet articles, 
should be kept by themselves. The dishes should be boiled in 
a special vessel when they are taken from the tray, and then 
placed upon a separate shelf ready for their next use in the 
sick-room. 

A basin or tub filled with a solution containing one of the 
cresol preparations, in the proportion of one teaspoonful to 
a quart of water, should be kept in the room, and all under¬ 
clothing and linen used by the patient should be dropped into 
this when they are removed. Thorough boiling of these ob¬ 
jects will complete their disinfection, and then they may be 
sent to the laundry or to the washtub as usual. 

In all diseases where there is peeling or scaling of the 
skin, such as scarlet fever or measles, this precaution is most 
necessary. 

Discharges from the nose and throat should, of course, al¬ 
ways be caught on gauze. This should be placed at once m a 
paper bag and the bag with its contents burned. The urine 

391 


392 DISINFECTION AND FUMIGATION 

and feces should be covered with chlorate of lime before being 
disposed of. 

Infectious conditions are sometimes communicated from 
one person to another by the hands of the nurse. Strict at¬ 
tention should be given by the nurse or the person taking care 
of the sufferer to keeping her own hands scrupulously clean 
—that is, surgically clean. 

For this purpose, a teaspoonful of one of the cresol prep¬ 
arations to a quart of water is as good a disinfectant as any. 
This should always be at hand. Before and after handling 
the patient, the nurse should wash her own hands in soap and 
water, scrubbing them with a brush. She should then clean 
her finger-nails, wash her hands again, and dip them in the 
disinfectant. 

In taking care of tubercular patients, hang the bedding and 
the outer clothing in the sunshine frequently. Mattresses 
should also be treated in this way. To make sure that the 
rays of the sun do their full work, let the things remain in the 
bright sunshine for several days in succession. 

After every case of an infectious or a contagious disease, 
the patient’s room should be thoroughly cleaned. In cases 
of highly infectious diseases, the room should also be fumi¬ 
gated. 

The first thing to do in disinfecting a room is to wash the 
walls and floor. The best thing to use for this purpose is one 
of the cresol preparations. If this is not at hand, use a good 
soap and hot water to which household ammonia has been 
added. 

When fumigation is necessary, the burning of a sulphur 
candle is as good and safe a method as any. Before making 
use of it there are certain preliminaries that must be observed, 
as follows: 

Bemove from the room any articles liable to become tar¬ 
nished by the sulphur. Among these are silver, gold, picture 
frames, jewelry, and delicately colored hangings or articles of 
clothing. 

Close the doors and the windows tightly, and stuff paper 
or cloth into any openings or cracks. 


DISINFECTION AND FUMIGATION 393 

Place the sulphur candle in a dish containing a little water. 
Light the candle and let it burn. 

Leave the room closed up for twenty-four hours, if pos¬ 
sible. 

After a day and night, open the windows and doors wide 
and allow the room to air thoroughly before using it. 

Sunshine is the best destroyer of the dreaded germs of 
tuberculosis. A room that has been occupied by a tubercular 
patient can be made quite wholesome by a good scrubbing 
with water containing one of the cresol preparations or 
other disinfectant, and sunning. However, if you feel at all 
nervous about the matter, it will do no harm to set your fears 
at rest by burning a sulphur candle. 

Fumigation is no proper substitute for soap and water. 
If I had to choose between them, I should prefer the latter. 
Many health experts have abandoned fumigation entirely be¬ 
cause too great dependence has been placed on the results. 
Germs are elusive things and, unless the fumigation is long 
continued, it is not effective in killing them. 

An abudance of soap and water with good hard scrubbing 
of walls, floors, all parts of the bed and chairs and tables, will 
do more than incomplete fumigation. A combination of both 
methods will add to the certainty of results. 


ADOLESCENCE 

(known also as puberty or maturity) 

I ONCE heard a most sensible woman say that since her two 
children were approaching the teens, she found no time for 
anything besides the “mother job.” 

I thought she was joking and reminded her of her many 
activities while they were still babies. “Yes,” she answered, 
“but now the job is a much more absorbing matter than colic 
and bottles. Any intelligent mother can care for a baby, but 
it takes prayer and fasting to look after a growing boy and 
girl.’ * 

That woman was right. I wish more parents of growing 
children would realize how important the “parent job” really 
is. 

Never in all their lives do boys and girls need the constant 
care of an understanding parent more than they do from the 
age of about ten to fifteen or sixteen, or even older. What 
happens to them, and how they take what happens to them, 
at this age may affect permanently their physical health. It 
may determine to a large extent how they are going to meet 
the ups and downs which are bound to come to them in later 
life. 

What makes the “parent job” most difficult at this stage 
is the fact that, as a rule, adolescent boys and girls are not 
given to talking about their feelings and their symptoms, 
especially to their elders. 

But the difficulty of the job is no excuse for failure in its 
accomplishment. It is the manifest duty of the parent to find 
out and to understand. Ignorance here is in itself a sin, not 
an excuse. 

“What are the symptoms of approaching adolescence in a 
healthy girl?” you may ask. 

Strictly speaking, there ought not to be any. Menstrua¬ 
tion normally begins at about fourteen years of age. Some- 

394 


ADOLESCENCE 


395 


times it starts as early as ten or eleven, or as late as fifteen 
or sixteen. If it is delayed beyond sixteen, a doctor should 
be consulted, even though the child seems to be entirely well. 
The periods are irregular at first, but they should gradually 
become regular. Ultimately they occur in cycles of from 
twenty-seven to thirty-one days, and last from three to four 
days. They should be without pain, mental depression, or 
nervous instability. 

The time immediately preceding the onset of menstrua¬ 
tion—the transition period between childhood and girlhood— 
should be spanned without physical or nervous symptoms. 
This is a time calling for the most careful watching. The 
changes which are taking place in a child at this age make a 
tremendous demand upon her strength. If her strength is 
fully equal to this demand, she will meet it without undue 
strain of mind or of body. But if she is not healthy and vigor¬ 
ous, the tension may prove too great and morbid symptoms 
may develop anywhere along the line of body, mind, or nerves 
—probably at the point of her greatest constitutional weak¬ 
ness, wherever that may be. The symptoms may be so slight 
as not to be noticeable at this age. But many of the infirmi¬ 
ties of mature and middle-aged women are directly traceable 
to the neglected symptoms of adolescence. 

Doctors now recognize the importance of those mysterious 
things—the endocrines, or ductless glands. Most of the things 
said and written for the laity about glands are silly and un¬ 
true. Yet there are such things as ductless glands. We know 
little about these glands, at present, but we do know that they 
have a tremendous influence over the general nervous system, 
including the brain itself. 

We also know that disturbances of the ductless glands are 
closely related to disturbances of the ovaries. We know that 
the ovarian glands are the storm-centers of the changes fiom 
the old physical order to the new—the changes taking place in 
the adolescent girl. 

This knowledge makes it easy for us to see why whatever 
is happening to the ovarian glands has a far-reaching effect 
upon the nervous and mental life of the girl. And this is why 


396 


ADOLESCENCE 


it is vitally important to keep the general strength and vigor 
of the growing child high enough to meet easily all calls for 
reenforcements that may be sent out from any of the regions 
reached and influenced by these mysterious ductless glands. 

The first thing to do in preparing a growing girl for a 
healthy adolescence is to keep her general health good by a 
simple, nourishing diet, an abundance of sleep, regular exer¬ 
cise, rest, bathing, and sensible habits. It is most important 
to avoid constipation, because this has a very bad effect upon 
the pelvic circulation. 

The second and more difficult part of the “mother job” 
at this time is to keep the child’s mind in a healthy condition 
by sane interests, moderate occupation, freedom from the 
strain of overstudy, worry, or responsibility, the avoidance of 
shocks, excitement, morbid fears, and unwholesome thoughts. 
Explain her own physiology frankly to your daughter, 
and encourage her to discuss with you all her symptoms, 
“queer” feelings, and perplexities. Teach her how to take 
care of her body. Discourage any morbid sensitiveness or 
brooding over little affronts or failures, or trivial ups and 
downs. One of the common mistakes of adolescence is to take 
everything too seriously—except the things which are really 
serious. 

This second part of the “parent job” applies equally to 
the care of the adolescent boy. No boy has a fair chance in 
life if he has to go through this critical period without a 
sensible parent as a confidant and guide. 

Just here, I cannot resist adding a word of warning to over- 
ambitious parents. It is really a small matter whether or 
not little Johnny or Mary “makes a grade” in school each 
year, between the ages of ten and sixteen or seventeen. It is 
a vital matter that the child shall have a sound body to carry 
his sound mind throughout these years—and afterwards. It is 
far better to take the child out of school entirely for a while, 
at the first signs of loss of weight, anemia, sleeplessness, irri¬ 
tability, or unusual moodiness. It is better to do this than 
to run past these danger signals for the sake of a brilliant 
school record, with the risk of a break-down later. 


ADOLESCENCE 


397 


Keep in touch with your doctor and discuss all the unusual 
symptoms with him. But in nine cases out of ten, you, 
Mother, will have to act as interpreter between the doctor and 
the little patient. 


MENOPAUSE, OP CHANGE OF LIFE 


S INCE it has become the fashion to talk about the “dan¬ 
gerous age,” this much-discussed time has been held re¬ 
sponsible for all the foibles and silliness in which grown 
women have taken it into their heads to indulge. It accounts, 
too, for some really serious illnesses which demand treatment. 

The fact is we are pretty apt to err either on one side or 
on the other in regard to it. Most women take it either too 
seriously or not seriously enough. There is a sensible middle 
course here, as everywhere. 

The only real danger, of course, lies in not taking it seri¬ 
ously enough. So I shall speak of that first. 

The menopause, or change of life, is the cessation of men¬ 
struation. It comes usually between forty and fifty-two years 
of age—most commonly between forty-five and fifty. If it is 
delayed beyond fifty-two, medical advice should be sought. 
The symptoms indicating the change may extend over a period 
of time anywhere from part of a year to five years. 

Strictly speaking, this time ought to be marked by no 
other symptoms than growing irregularity, lessening, and 
finally the absence of the monthly periods. 

It is common, however, for healthy women to be troubled 
—particularly for some time after the periods have ceased— 
with disturbances of the circulation and of the nervous sys¬ 
tem. The usual symptoms are “hot flashes,’’ palpitation, 
dizziness, irritability, shortness of breath, faintness, spots be¬ 
fore the eyes, and depression. There may be excessive per¬ 
spiration, nosebleeds, numbness, tender spots here and there, 
and neuralgia. In fact, the symptoms may be of endless 
variety, according to the temperaments of the women and the 
circumstances of their lives. 

A sensible woman will recognize these symptoms and dis¬ 
cuss them frankly with her family doctor. They nearly al¬ 
ways pass in a few months or years, and require no other 
treatment than care of the general health. 

398 


MENOPAUSE, OP CHANGE OF LIFE 399 

On the other hand, there ought not to be any very pro¬ 
nounced physical symptoms at this time. There may be con¬ 
stipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and headache. That is, there 
may be such physical symptoms as are due to the circulation 
or the nervous system. 

Whenever definite bodily illness occurs during the meno¬ 
pause, it should receive the same immediate attention as at 
any other time. Indeed, it should have more careful attention 
at this time than usual, because now, as during adolescence, 
the whole make-up of the person is undergoing a peculiar 
strain. On this account, the woman is more apt to fall a victim 
to disease—particularly constitutional weakness—than at 
other times. Prolonged or profuse bleeding, as well as pain or 
other symptoms of illness, should be reported to the doctor. 

The only real danger at this time is for a woman to charge 
up to the change of life, symptoms which are, in reality, warn¬ 
ings of definite disease. This difficulty can be overcome, not 
by worrying about it, but by asking the advice of the family 
doctor. 

Now, let us consider the other side of the picture. 

While an endless variety of nervous symptoms and 
<6 queer’* feelings are common at this time, they are by no 
means the rule. It used to be thought that they were. Now 
we know better. A great many women go through the change 
of life with no symptoms at all. 

When such symptoms occur, they ought to be looked upon 
merely as passing discomforts. They are due to increasing 
atrophy of the ovaries, a physical condition which interferes 
with the secretion of the glands. At this age the blood supply 
to all the pelvic organs is growing less and less. The organs 
are decreasing in size and in function. This change may have 
an extremely unpleasant effect upon the circulation and the 
nervous system, but it is altogether normal. The human 
mechanism may be depended upon to right itself in due time. 

The change is comparable to what took place during ado¬ 
lescence-only the process is reversed. There may be a great 
similarity in the kind of nervous symptoms, with allowance 
for the difference in ages and experiences. But there ought 


400 MENOPAUSE, OR CHANGE OF LIFE 

to be a tremendous difference in the way we regard the symp¬ 
toms at the two ages. In adolescence we have to deal with a 
formative process. Whatever happens at this age may affect 
the entire future of the child. At the menopause, we are deal¬ 
ing with a process of atrophy, or decay. The symptoms— 
however unpleasant they may be—are concerned with a func¬ 
tion which has already done its work, and which is of no fur¬ 
ther importance. Dismiss them if you can. Endure them if 
you can’t forget them. Talk them over with your doctor if 
it will help. But don’t take them too seriously. 

The best advice to give a woman who is approaching the 
menopause is to take good care of her general health, to keep 
early hours and, if possible, to take an hour’s rest during the 
day. She should avoid overwork, excitement, and strain of 
body and mind. Let her consult her doctor frequently, and, 
above all things, cultivate a sane philosophy and a wholesome 
attitude towards life. 

It is not to be supposed that the change of life is a purely 
feminine experience. As a matter of fact, the nervous and 
general symptoms which women have are not unusual in men 
at a little later period of life. The advice given applies to 
men with equal force. 


DUCTLESS GLANDS 


(also known as hormones, endocrines; internal 
secretions) 

W HENEVER Nature requires some sort of fluid, for pur¬ 
poses of lubrication, to aid in digestion, or for any 
other reason, she has provided gland tissue. The glands of 
the body are of two sorts: First, there is the ordinary secret¬ 
ing gland, like the lachrymal gland which furnishes the tears 
so lavishly spilled by the tender-hearted, or like the liver 
which furnishes the bile essential to intestinal digestion. 

Then, we find another kind, known as the “ductless 
glands.’’ These are remarkable in that they resemble, both 
externally and in internal structure, the ordinary glands, but 
they possess no openings for the escape of their secretions. 
Because of the absence of such openings, they are called 
“ductless glands,” and their products are called “internal 
secretions.” 

The internal secretions have some, as yet, mysterious and 
not well-understood, influence on the chemistry and develop¬ 
ment of the body and brain. If they overact, certain condi¬ 
tions follow; if they fail to function, the opposite effects are 
noticed. Dwarf or giant—the decision as to which the child 
shall develop into is determined by the action of the pitu¬ 
itary body,” one of the ductless glands, a little bit of a body 
resting on the floor of the skull, below the base of the brain. 

The thyroid gland, situated in the neck, which becomes so 
conspicuous and deforming in goiter, is another of the duct¬ 
less glands. This, too, is an organ essential to bodily develop¬ 
ment. 

The adrenals, the pineal and thymus glands, the inter¬ 
stitial glands or gonads, the parathyroids, and the pancreas 
are other ductless glands which affect the growth or function¬ 
ing of the body. All of them are being carefully studied by 
specialists known as “endocrinologists,” and it will probably 

401 


402 DUCTLESS GLANDS 

not be long before we shall understand as much about their 
influence upon health and disease as we now understand about 
the influence of the thyroid gland. 

Much is being written these days about glands, their effect 
on personality and on health and vigor. Most of the things 
said are extravagant. 

From earliest times men have sought to evade death. 
Ponce de Leon came to America seeking the fountain of youth. 
Marie Corelli made one of her characters discover it. 

But in spite of all endeavor, in certain age-groups death is 
just as triumphant as ever. There is no royal road to longev¬ 
ity. The physician has done and is doing much, but do not 
imagine for a moment that a surgical operation will give you 
back your lost or wasted youth. 

I wish I could endorse all I have seen and heard about 
gland transplantation, but I can’t do it. It just isn’t true, and 
that’s all there is to it. 

We have heard about transplanting glands. They can 
be transplanted, but they won’t work after they are trans¬ 
planted. 

To have a successful removal of an organ from one man 
or one animal to another man or animal involves a lot of 
things. You see, something more is needed than merely to 
have the organ live. It must be made to function, or all the 
pain, trouble, and expense have been in vain. 

To have an organ function, it must have the usual blood 
supply. The blood-vessels must be intact, so that the essen¬ 
tial portions may receive an unfailing supply of the vital 
fluid. 

To have an organ function, it must have its normal nerve 
supply. Nervous impulses are needed to excite and control 
the operation of the organ. 

To remove an organ like a gland its blood-vessels and 
nerves must be severed. There are no corresponding vessels 
and nerves to which the severed structure of the transplanted 
organ can be attached. Consequently the essential blood and 
nerve force are not provided and the organ cannot function. 

Of course the transplanted organ may contain certain 


DUCTLESS GLANDS 


403 


elements already created. These may be absorbed by the host 
and accomplish a temporary effect, but very shortly, cer¬ 
tainly—if not at once—the “revigorated” individual will be 
his same old self. 

While we live in a wonderful age, our age of modern in¬ 
vention and discovery, progress has been largely in things 
entirely aside from the processes of life and longevity. You 
must take with a grain of salt extravagant promises to extend 
the span of life. Such systems are like “get rich quick” 
schemes in finance. They must be viewed with suspicion and 
actual distrust. 

Every child has the right to be taught how to live. Facili¬ 
ties for his physical care are within reach. If his teeth, eyes, 
tonsils, intestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, liver, and heart are 
given a fair chance, he will need in his advanced age no bor¬ 
rowed glands or other imported organs to keep him alive and 
vigorous beyond the present expectancy of life. 

(See also Goiter; Thyroid Gland and Myxedema.) 


CARE OF THE FACE 


I T is surprising how many skins are imperfect. Some are 
disfigured with pimples. Some are peppered with black¬ 
heads. Some are scaly and rough. The openings of the 
large pores of the nose are sometimes filled with dirt. The 
wrinkles of the neck are discolored, if not actually grimy. 

The skin of the body and the arms and the hands may be 
free from blemish, but the face of the same person is far from 
perfect. Why is this? 

Doubtless there are many reasons. One is that the face is 
exposed to the elements, to dust, and dirt. But so are the 
hands. 

Another reason for bad skin is bad eating. Eating too 
much pastry and greasy things; neglecting the stomach and 
intestines; drinking too little water—all these contribute to a 
defective skin. But why should the face suffer any more than 
the rest of the body? 

There must be some particular reason why the skin of the 
face suffers as it does, and I think I know it. 

It is because the face is dirty or because your efforts to 
clean it are improper. 

Almost everybody washes the hands several times a day. 
The finger-nails or knuckles may be unclean or grimy, but par¬ 
ticular deposits of dirt and corruption have little chance for 
permanent residence. I venture to say that the average per¬ 
son washes his face just once a day, on getting up in the morn¬ 
ing. There are a good many people, of course, who bathe the 
face on return from working or before retiring. But it can¬ 
not be denied that the part of the body most exposed to dirt 
and dust gets little attention. 

We come now to another cause for bad skin. Too many of 
us use the wrong kind of soap. If it is highly alkaline— 
“strong soap”—the oil of the skin is dissolved, and the sur¬ 
face is left unprotected for the attack of germs and poisonous 
contacts. Non-irritating soaps are the best to use for this 
purpose. 




CARE OF THE FACE 


405 


This is not a highly scientific description, but it expresses 
what I desire to impress upon you. Oil or grease is required 
by the skin to catch and entangle germs or filth, which other¬ 
wise might gain admission to the body, producing local dis¬ 
turbances, if not general ill health. 

Of course, I do not wish to convey the impression that 
germs are like spiders or foxes—animals which can be caught 
in a trap. There can be no doubt, however, that the oil of 
the skin has a double function—to keep the covering flexible 
and to render it impervious to harmful external agents. 

It is easy to see why cleanliness is so important. You are 
certainly not safe from local infection and are probably not 
safe from the possibility of general infection, unless the sur¬ 
face of the skin is kept reasonably free from contaminating 
material. You have no right to call yourself clean if your 
very face gives evidence to the contrary. 

Perhaps it makes little difference what kind of soap is em¬ 
ployed to cleanse the face, provided you follow its use by the 
application of some form of grease or cream. This will serve 
two purposes. It will replace the oil you have extracted by 
the generous use of strong soap; and, if massaged thoroughly 
into the skin and then rubbed off with a soft towel, it will serve 
to remove a lot of dirt which soap and water will not touch. 

Really, it is shameful how soiled some skins are, even after 
almost lavish use of soap and water. After a thorough wash¬ 
ing of your face, wet a corner of a towel with alcohol and rub 
the skin with the cloth. You will be shocked to see the result¬ 
ing smudge of dirt on the towel. 

The ordinary use of soap and water is not enough to keep 
the face clean. In addition, there must be other agents. 

Alcohol, cologne, bay rum, witch-hazel, and the mixtures 
of spirits are commonly applied after shaving or bathing. 
There can be no doubt of their cleansing value. They are de¬ 
cidedly useful if followed by an application of grease or 
cream. But without such follow-up treatment, it is my opinion 
that they will add to the possibilities of local disturbance, be¬ 
cause they dissolve still more of the natural oil of the skin. 

If a man is in the habit of shaving every morning, my ad- 


406 CARE OF THE FACE 

vice is to wash the face with soap and water first, to shave, 
and then to wash oft the excess of lather, thoroughly drying 
the face and hands. 

Having done this, apply the chosen cream or grease and 
massage the face, nose, and neck. Use both hands, carefully 
manipulating the skin. With your palms, stretch the tissues 
of the neck upward. Do not neglect the parts under the chin, 
the place where the double chin forms. 

A woman should wash her face and proceed with massage 
in the same way. 

After a minute or two of this treatment, wipe off the grease 
with a soft cloth. Use no more water at this time. 

It makes little difference what kind of oil or grease is 
used so long as the article is fresh and pure. I suppose the 
cream from milk would be as good as anything. 

However, in this day of commercial alertness, we can buy 
about anything needed for human happiness, put up in can, 
jar, or tube. 61 Creams” or “cold creams” for use on the 
skin are no exception. Many of the good drug supply houses 
have placed on the market excellent toilet articles. Jars or 
flexible tubes of facial cream can be had at every pharmacy 
and department store. 

I am not interested in this subject because of the effect of 
the cosmetics on facial blemishes, but because of the relation 
of the latter to health and happiness. Many a young woman 
has felt her life to be blighted because of a bad complexion. 
Her chagrin and worry have resulted in ill health. 

Success in life depends in some degree upon personal ap¬ 
pearance. Perhaps privation and impaired health have been 
caused by failure to get decent employment on account of a 
blemished face. 

Any sore of the skin is a breeding place for disease-pro¬ 
ducing germs. Serious diseases of remote parts or organs 
have been traced to local sores. Perfect health demands that 
every structure be free from disturbance. Therefore, the face 
should be given greater care than it is given by most persons. 

(See also Blackheads; Constipation; Indigestion.) 


CARE OF WOMEN’S HAIR 


T T is far more difficult for a woman to care for her hair than 
* it is for a man. The long, twisted locks are matted to¬ 
gether in a mass which may readily become very unclean. 
Unless there is the greatest care, there will be disease of the 
scalp with increasing loss of hair. 

Unfortunately, there is a popular idea abroad that fre¬ 
quent washing of the hair is harmful. It is thought by many 
that loss of hair, premature grayness, and all sorts of hair ail¬ 
ments are due to excessive washing. I don’t believe a word 
of it. 

You cannot have good hair and a lot of it unless you keep 
it clean. Of course there are exceptions. Some dirty, filthy, 
smelly, oily, sticky, stringy masses appear to flourish in spite 
of the condition of the scalp. 

The hair differs. Some scalps have an abundance of oil, 
perhaps an excess of it. Others have abnormal dryness. The 
oily hair catches dust and dirt. This variety is especially in 
need of frequent washing. The dry hair should be washed, 
too, but it will be benefited by the application of a trifling 
amount of oil. 

If you are troubled with dandruff or greasy hair, the fol¬ 
lowing preparation will be found helpful: Tincture of can- 
tharides, forty drops; spirit of rosemary, three ounces; spirit 
of lavender, three ounces. 

If the hair is excessively dry, the following preparation, 
rubbed into the scalp after washing the hair, will help: Chloral 
hydrate, one and one-half drachms; castor oil, one and one- 
half drachms; water, four ounces. 

Of course women are affected by the same factors that 
cause baldness in men. The scalp is supplied by blood carried 
to it by the vessels which run to the crown from below. If the 
heart is weak, the blood is not sent in powerful stream to 
the very top of the head. In that case there is apt to be bald¬ 
ness. 


407 


408 


CAKE OF WOMEN'S HAIR 


Women escape the contributing cause of baldness so com¬ 
mon in men—tightness and heaviness of the hat, which cer¬ 
tainly interferes with free circulation of blood to all the hair 
bulbs of the scalp. The millinery of women is more favorable 
to keeping the hair than is the head-dress of men. 

There is certain treatment which may be applied to the 
scalp to improve the circulation and to stimulate the growth 
of hair. 

A very good tonic for falling or thin hair is: Fluid extract 
of pilocarpin, one-half drachm; quinine, one and one-half 
drachms; sulphur precipitate, two drachms, balsam of Peru, 
six drachms; lard, three ounces. 

Apply this preparation to the scalp every other day, using 
the finger-tips. Then massage briskly for five or ten minutes. 
Brushing the hair with a stiff brush does a great deal to stimu¬ 
late the circulation and improve the growth. 

(See also Baldness in Men.) 


RIGHT LIVING 

(sunshine, fresh air, exercise, temperance in all things) 

A S I write this the sun shines. All nature smiles. It is a 
glorious day. 

It is remarkable how much we are influenced by our sur¬ 
roundings. When the sun shines there is sunshine in our 
hearts. A balmy day in June or a crisp, bright day in winter 
will add to our happiness and good nature. 

There are cults and schools of thought teaching that every¬ 
thing depends on the mind and its operation. There is much 
that verifies this belief. Of course, I cannot go as far as lots 
of my friends do, but it must be conceded we are much in¬ 
fluenced physically by the mental state. 

When we are happy the heart beats briskly. The blood is 
sent in forceful streams to every part of the brain and body. 
The skin is aglow, the nerves tingle, and there is a delight¬ 
ful sense of well-being. 

There is no doubt that a sluggish liver has much to do with 
mental disturbances, but it is a poor rule that does not work 
both ways. Certainly this one does, and if you would be 
mentally alert and physically sound, you must be philosophical 
about the happenings in your world. 

To-day is Monday. I am on a train in the Southwest. 
Just beyond the track is a little cottage, surrounded by a neat 
picket fence. A long clothes-line carries the wash, and hang¬ 
ing over the fence are at least two dozen heavy shirts and 
boys’ cotton trousers. 

But even though it is wash-day, the busy housewife has 
done another important thing. She has brought out all the 
blankets and quilts. There they hang in the bright sunshine, 
for an “airing” and a “sunning.” 

It is remarkable how scientific some familiar household 
practices really are. There is no more sanitary and health- 

409 


410 


RIGHT LIVING 


giving measure than making use of the sunlight for purifying 
and sweetening the household equipment. Not only the bed¬ 
ding, but also the milk-pail, the pans, the rugs, and draperies 
are disinfected by the rays of the sun. 

Even the germs of dread tuberculosis will die in a few 
hours when exposed to direct sunlight. There is positive and 
scientifically proven germ-killing action in the sun’s rays. 

So you see our grandmothers, usually right in everything, 
were surely right in their belief that sunning was necessary 
to have a sanitary and healthful home. 

Germs love dark, moist, and warm places. What we call 
mold is really a mass of germs. Wherever mold will grow, 
other germs will multiply. Whenever you find something 
moldy, you find a place which should be purified. 

Molds won’t develop in the sunlight or where the sun, by 
its heat, can give dryness, as well as its disinfecting qualities. 

Perhaps you are going to build a home next spring or 
move into a different house or apartment. Have you thought 
about the importance of sunlight? 

Have a dwelling-place into which sunlight streams part of 
the day. 

Find in your home a sheltered place which the sunshine 
floods. Spread a blanket on the floor and let the baby, free 
from clothing, play and kick in the health-giving sunlight. 

Another absolute necessity for everybody who would be 
healthy, whether or old or young, is fresh air. It is not enough 
for you to take a walk out-of-doors each day. Your living- 
room and your office or working-room—and above all, your 
bedroom—must be well ventilated. 

When the lungs get a lot of vitiated air the blood cells go 
back from the lungs only half loaded with stimulating, life- 
giving oxygen. Without air and oxygen, a fire will not burn 
brightly, but will smolder and smoke. For the same reason, 
the life processes are lowered in power unless there is an 
abundance of oxygen-laden air. 

The stupid feeling you have when poisoned by bad air is 
not the same as the sleep you enjoy in a well-ventilated room. 
The former is like taking an anesthetic, and will leave you, 


EIGHT LIVING 411 

not only nnrefreshed, but with a headache and the uncomfort¬ 
able after-effects of anesthesia. 

Look your house and office over and see if you are work¬ 
ing with one hundred per cent efficiency. You cannot be fully 
awake when the air you breathe is not pure. Your employees 
are not doing the best they can for you unless they are getting 
an unfailing supply of oxygen. 

Sleep in a w T ell-ventilated room and keep awake by living 
in well-ventilated rooms. Do not permit yourself to be stupe¬ 
fied and poisoned by breathing impure air. 

The next rule for healthy living is daily exercise. 

Why is it necessary to exercise? The purpose of exercise 
is to stimulate the body. When one group of muscles is being 
used Nature requires more blood to supply that particular 
part of the body, and the forcefully acting heart speeds the 
blood through those vessels, cleansing them of all impurities. 
At the same time, the blood coursing through the brain washes 
it clean, just as soap and water will wash the surface of the 
body. After a period of fifteen or twenty minutes given to any 
chosen method of exercising, the body is in a glow from the 
increased circulation, the brain is clear, and the thought struc¬ 
tures are purified and cleansed, ready to do more effective 
brain-work. 

It does you no good to exercise in a stale atmosphere, in 
air impregnated with the poisons of overbreathing and con¬ 
taminated with dust or tobacco-smoke. The exercises must be 
taken in the open air or in a room freely ventilated, so that 
the purifying oxygen of the air will be breathed deeply into 
the lungs. Here it is picked up by the blood-vessels and 
carried to every part of the body to do its work of purifica¬ 
tion. 

It isn’t necessary to belong to a club with expensive dues 
or to go to a gymnasium where there are many attractive 
pieces of apparatus. It may add to the pleasure of taking the 
exercises to do them in unison with others, because the 
element of competition and natural rivalry enters into it 
under these circumstances, but if you cannot pay for expen¬ 
sive equipment, or if you are far.from a gymnasium, you can 


412 


RIGHT LIVING 


take effective exercise just the same. You have your body, 
your arms, your legs. All that is required is intelligent use 
of these parts in order to make yourself strong and vigorous 
by conscientiously practicing a regular daily routine of exer¬ 
cise. Excellent phonographic records are provided to assist 
in these exercises. 

Many people suffer needless ailments because they do not 
adapt their eating habits to their living and working habits. 

It seems to be expected of the lower animals that they 
shall sleep after meals. They gorge their stomachs with food 
and then lie down to sleep off the effects of active digestion. 

If you are engaged in active business where alert brain ac¬ 
tion is required, it is a mistake to eat too much in the middle 
of the day. If you have a hearty breakfast and can look for¬ 
ward to a big meal at night, you can well go without lunch, or 
eat a very light one. 

If you are doing hard, manual labor, you must have more 
food and can take a substantial midday meal, because the 
nature of your work will keep you awake. 

Everybody should eat according to his daily tasks. It is 
wrong for the mental worker to eat heartily of the substantial 
food the laborer requires. It will not be disposed of in a 
proper way, and it becomes a burden to the digestive organs 
and the kidneys. 

Common-sense will convince you of the physical wasteful¬ 
ness of overeating, and that is exactly what you do when you 
take more food than the degree of your activity demands. 

Simply because you eat no more than your hard-working 
brother means nothing. He may not eat enough for his needs, 
while you may be taking far more than you should have.. 

My last word to you in the matter of right living is the 
word “ temperance .’ 9 

It is safe to say that the majority of your illnesses have 
been caused or contributed to by your own indiscretions. 
When it is generally known that some fault of the individual 
is responsible for his sickness, there will be less conversation 
about disease. The day will come when folks will be ashamed 
to admit they are not well. 


RIGHT LIVING 413 

The Christian Scientists talk a lot about “error.” While 
I may not use the word in quite the sense they do, yet I be¬ 
lieve it to be true that most of our illnesses come from wrong 
habits or wrong acts of some sort. In short, they have their 
origin in error. 

Recently, a delegation of my friends came in to see me. 
One had a severe pain in his side, three complained of head¬ 
ache, two had “indigestion,” and only three of the group pro¬ 
fessed to feel fit and fine. All of these persons are most ex¬ 
emplary in their lives, so there was no special cause for their 
almost unanimous indisposition. Without exception, their ail¬ 
ments came from indiscretion in eating. 

St. Paul admonished the Corinthians, saying: “And every 
man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” 
There can be no successful leadership without good health. 
There can be no happiness in labor without physical vigor. 
Mental alertness and the maximum of intellectual effort are 
never associated with bodily suffering. 

Perfect health is impossible to the intemperate man. In¬ 
temperance in eating, intemperance in late hours, intemper¬ 
ance in physical exertion—too much of anything—reacts upon 
the body to lessen its energy, normal function, and useful 
service. 

Teeth, stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys—all the organs 
suffer the effects of intemperance. Muscles, heart, nerves, 
and brain suffer from your indiscretion. The body is the 
temple of the Holy Ghost, and every form of intemperance 
profanes and defiles this temple. We are under moral obliga¬ 
tion to protect our bodies against disease. 


INDEX 


Abscess at the root of a tooth, 333 
Absorbent cotton in first-aid kit, 373 
Acid burn, 373 
Acne, 182-184, 406 

Acute catarrhal bronchitis, 31, 32, 41, 
170 

Aconite, skin eruption due to, 268 
Acute coryza, 215, 216 
Adenoids, 9, 10, 31, 32, 41, 69, 71, 169, 
170, 218, 285, 329, 340, 341 
Adhesive plaster in first-aid kit, 373 
Adolescence, 174, 327, 394-397 
Age, degenerative changes in, 257-259 
Agglutinative method, 67 
Air, fresh, 343, 409-411 
Applicators, in first-aid kit, 373 
Agglutinins, 349 
Alcohol, wood, 129, 131 
as poison, 186 

Ammonia, aromatic spirits of, in first- 
aid kit, 372 

Amyl nitrite pearls, 8, 10, 24, 26 
Anemia, 47, 171-174, 396 
Angina pectoris, 24-26 
Angioneurotic edema, 266 
Ankles, swelling of, 186 
Antipyrin, skin eruption due to, 268 
Antitoxin, diphtheria, 226, 227 
Apoplexy, 125-127 
Appendicitis, 3, 4, 212 
Arm, broken, 27-29 
Arsenic, skin eruption due to, 268 
Arsenic poisoning, 295 
Arteriosclerosis, 126, 186, 252, 257-259, 
306 

Arthritis, 175-177 
Articular rheumatism, 305, 306 
Artificial respiration, 5-7, 61-63 
Asphyxia, 5-7, 63 
Asthma, 8-10, 261 
bronchial, 188-190 
Auto-intoxication, 264 

Babies, constipation in, 390 
care of, 310, 384-390 
cooking for, 388 
death rate among, 376 


Babies —Continued 

drinking water for, 389, 390 
clothing, 390 
feeding of, 310, 384-390 
weaning of, 384, 385 
Back, neuralgia of the, 116 
rheumatism of the, 116 
strain of the, 147 
Backache, 116, 117 
Baldness, 178, 179, 407, 408 
Bandages in first-aid kit, 373 
Barber’s itch, 311-313 
Barley water, how to prepare, 386 
Bath, foot, 377 
hot, 39-41, 46, 47, 215, 216 
sitz, 280, 281 
Bathing, in colds, 39-41 

convulsions of children, 46, 47 
coryza, 215, 216 
leucorrhea, 280, 281 
typhoid fever, 350 
the sick, 376, 377 
Bed-sores, 246, 247 
Bee, sting of, 11, 12 
Belladonna, skin eruption due to, 268 
Benign tumor, 345, 346 
Biliary colic, 244 
Biliousness, 180, 181 
Bite, snake, 141, 142 
Bites, of animals, 13-15 
dogs, 13-15 
insects, 13-15 
Black eye, 16, 17, 355 
Blackheads, 182-184, 406 
Bleeding, 18-20, 95, 96, 148, 186, 259, 
350, 399 

from the nose, 122-124 
into the eye, 354 
Blistered feet, 78-80 
Blood-poisoning in burns, 37 
Blood-vessels, ruptured, 354-356 
Blow on the head, 148, 149 
Boils and carbuncles, 21-23 
Boils, aural, 22, 23 
crops of, 24 
Bones, brittle, 29, 30 
broken, 28-30 


415 


416 


INDEX 


Boracic acid, in first-aid kit, 370 
Bottle feeding for babies, 384-390 
Botulism bacilli, 133 
Bow-leg, 310 
Breast-feeding, 384, 385 
Breast pang, 24-26, 259 
Breathing, artificial, 4-6, 60-62 
Bright’s disease, 127, 185-187, 236, 259, 
265, 279 

Broken bones, 27-30 
Bromides, skin eruption due to, 286 
Bronchial asthma, 188-190 
Bronchitis, 7, 9, 10, 188-190, 287 
acute catarrhal, 31, 32, 41 
Bronchopneumonia, 303 
Bronchoscope, 118, 119 
Bruises, 33, 34, 373 
Bumps, 33, 34, 373 
Bunions, 191-193 
Burn ointment, 373 
Burns, 35-38, 373 
acid, 373 
Bursitis, 191-193 

Callouses, 213, 214 
Canned meat, 133, 134 
Canned vegetables, 133, 134 
Car sickness, 138, 194, 195 
Carbolic acid poisoning, 129, 230 
Carbuncles, 21-23 
in diabetes, 22 
Carcinoma, 346 
Care of babies, 384-390 
Care of the face, 404-406 
Care of the sick at home, 375-377 
Care of women’s hair, 407-408 
Caries, 332-335 
Castor oil in first-aid kit, 372 
Catarrh, nasal, 31, 32, 68-70, 105, 169, 
188, 196-198, 216, 272, 285, 329 
Catarrhal deafness, 198 
jaundice, 279 

Centipede, sting of, 11, 12 

Cereals for babies, how to prepare, 386 

Change of life, 398-400 

Chicken-pox, 41, 199, 200 

Chilblains, 92, 93 

Children, rheumatism in, 307, 308 

Chilling, 373 

Chills and colds, 32, 39-41, 170, 201, 
205, 215, 216, 271, 272, 320, 373 
Chills and fever, 283, 373 
Chloral, skin eruption due to, 268 
Chlorate of potash, as poison, 186 
Chlorosis, 171-174 


Choking, 42, 43, 159 
Chorea, 256 

Cinder in the eye, 72, 73 
Cleanliness, surgical, 35, 38, 53, 55, 73, 
88, 89, 94, 95, 113, 115, 370, 392 
Climacteric. See Menopause 
Clothing babies, 390 
Cold, common, 31, 40, 69, 104, 144, 170, 
190, 198, 201-205, 216, 218, 272, 
285 

Cold-sores, 81 
Colic, 44, 45, 50, 57, 373 
biliary, 244 
gall-stone, 244 
Colic in children, 44, 45 
Colitis, 56, 57, 204-208 
mucous, 204-208, 212 
Complete fracture, 27 
Complexion, 404-406 
Compound fracture, 27 
Conjunctivitis, acute, 128, 129 
Constipation, 57, 96, 97-100, 105, 108, 
171, 174, 180, 188, 208, 209-212, 
215, 241, 245, 251, 257, 259, 275, 
276, 297, 305, 321, 326, 351, 373, 
399, 406 
in babies, 390 
Consumption, 342-344 
Contagion in chicken-pox, 199, 200 
in conjunctivitis, 129 
in diphtheria, 226-229 
in measles, 286 
in mumps, 288-290 
in scarlet fever, 318-320 
in whooping-cough, 359-360 
Contagious diseases, 391-393 
Contre-coup, 90 

Convulsions, 46, 47, 86, 87, 218, 318 
Convulsive tic, 255, 256 
Cooking for babies, 388 
“Cooties,” 83, 84 
Corns, 213, 214 

Corrosive sublimate as poison, 186 
Coryza, 32, 41, 201, 205, 215, 216, 261, 
272, 285 

Costiveness, 209-212. See also Consti¬ 
pation 

Cough, dry, 217, 218 
ear, 218 
irritant, 217 
productive, 217 
stomach, 217 

whooping, 32, 41, 359, 360 
Cracks. See Fissures 
Cramps, 45, 48-50, 373 


INDEX 


Crepitus, 27 

Cretinism, 337 

Croup, 50-54, 170 

Croup-kettle, 31, 32 

Cubebs, skin eruption due to, 268 

Cuts, 43, 55 

Dandruff, 183, 407 
Deafness, catarrhal, 198 
Dental defects, 332-335 
Diabetes, 221-225, 259, 265, 277, 295 
Diarrhea, 56, 57, 208, 212, 399 
Diet and apoplexy, 127 
and biliousness, 180, 181 
and boils, 22 
and colic, 44 

and convulsions in children, 46 
and eczema, 231 
and gall-stones, 241 
and habits, 412 

and hardening of the arteries, 257- 
259 

and headaches, 264 
and hives, 266-268 
and indigestion, 106 
and pruritus, 277 
Diet for babies, 385-390 
young children, 389, 390 
Diet in anemia, 171-174 
in asthma, 9 

in blackheads, or acne, 182-184 
in Bright’s disease, 185, 187 
in constipation, 209-212 
in diabetes, 221, 223-225 
in diarrhea, 57 
in gall-stones, 341 
in gout, 252 

in hardening of the arteries, 257-259 
in hives, 266-268 
in hyperacidity, 99, 100 
in jaundice, 278 
in measles, 286 
in mucous colitis, 206, 208 
in rheumatism, 305 
in rickets, 309, 310 
in St. Vitus’s dance, 315 
in seasickness, 136, 137 
in typhoid fever, 350 
in tuberculosis, 342-344 
in ulcer of the stomach, 353 
in violent vomiting, 165, 166 
value of milk in, 171, 174, 314, 315 
Difficult menstruation, 120, 121, 280, 
281 

Digitalin, skin eruption due to, 268 


417 

Diphtheria, 41, 50, 53, 145, 186, 226- 
229, 289, 290, 295, 391 
Disinfection, 350, 391-393 
Dislocations, 58-60 
Dizziness, 163, 164 
Doctor, when to call the, 365-376 
Dog bites, 12-14 
Dogs, mad, 12-14 
Drowning, 61-63, 148, 149 
Drug poisoning, 266-268 
Drugs, skin affections due to poisoning 
from, 266-268 
Dry cough, 217, 218 
Ductless glands, 248-250, 336, 337, 395, 
401-403 

Dysentery, 56, 57. See also Diarrhea 
Dysmenorrhea, 120, 121. See also Dif¬ 
ficult menstruation 

Dyspepsia, 106-108. See also Indiges¬ 
tion 

Ear, inflammation of the middle, 39, 
319 

insects and foreign bodies in the, 64- 
66 

Earache, 67-70, 170, 285 
Ecchymosis of the lids, 16 
Eczema, 230-233, 268, 355 
Edema, angioneurotic, 266 
Electrical shock, 62, 71, 72 
Empyema, 301, 302 

Endocrines, 248-250, 336, 337, 395, 401- 
403 

Enlargement of the veins, 356 
Enteritis, 56 
Epilepsy, 47, 234, 235 
Jacksonian, 86, 87 
Erysipelas, 236-238 

complications following, 237 
Examining the urine, 380, 381 
Exercise, 409, 410, 412 
Exophthalmic goiter, 249 
black, 16, 17, 355 
foreign body in the, 73, 74 
hemorrhage into the, 354 
injuries to the, 373 

Eye strain, 151, 166, 235, 254, 264, 290, 
315 

Eyelids, granulated, 253, 254 

Face, care of the, 404-406 
Fainting, 75, 76, 140, 373 
Fallen arches, 239, 240 
Favus, 311-313 

Feeding of the baby, 310, 384-390 


418 


INDEX 


Feet, perspiring, 77, 79 
sore and blistered, 78-80 
Fever blister, 81, 82. See also Herpes 
Fever heat, 155-157 
Filth conditions, 83-85 
Finger-joint, dislocated, 60 
First aid, general advice in, 370-374 
First-aid outfit, 54, 371-373 
Fish-hook in the skin, 88, 89 
Fissure of the skin, 77-79 
Fits, 47, 86, 87, 237 
Flat-foot, 239, 240 
Food. See Diet 

Food poisoning, 133-135, 266-268, 295 
Foot-bath, giving a, 377 
Foreign bodies in the ear, 64-66 
in the eye, 72, 73 
in the nose, 63-65 
in the lungs, 118, 119, 159 
in the skin, 88, 89 
in the throat, 41, 42 
Foreign bodies, swallowing, 43, 158, 
159 

Fourth-of-July accidents, 114 
Fracture, complete, 28 
compound, 28 
green-stick, 28 
impacted, 28 
incomplete, 28 
of the skull, 90, 91 
Fresh air, 343, 409-411 
Frost-bite, 94, 95 
Fumigation, 391-393 

Gall-stone colic, 244 
Gall-stones, 212, 241-245 
Gangrene, 246, 247 
Gas, poisoning from illuminating, 7 
suffocation from, 62 
Giant hives, 266 

Gland, thyroid, 248-250, 336, 337, 401, 
403 

Glands, ductless, 248-250, 336, 337, 395, 
401, 403 

infection of the, 319 
Goiter, 248-250, 336, 337, 403 
Gout, 251, 252, 259, 265, 306 
Granular conjunctivitis, 253, 254 
Granular eyelids, 253, 254 
Green-stick fracture, 28 
Grippe. See Influenza 
Gunshot wounds, 94, 95 

Habit spasms, 255, 256 

Hair, care of the, 178, 179, 407, 408 


Hardening of the arteries, 127, 186, 252, 
257-259, 306 
Hay fever, 260, 261 
Head, blow on the, 148, 149 
pain in the, 56, 57, 262, 265 
Headache, 96, 97, 108, 262-265, 399 
bilious, 263 
blind, 263 
congestive, 263 
from eyestrain, 264 
nervous, 263 
reflex, 264 
sick, 263 

Headache tablets, 264 
Health inspections, 380 
Heart disease and rheumatism, 307, 308 
Heartburn, 98-100, 108, 181, 351 
Heat exhaustion, 155-157 
prostration, 155-157 
stroke, 155-157 

Helpless, transporting the, 378, 379 
Hemorrhage, 18-20, 95, 96, 186, 259, 
350, 399 

Hemorrhage into the eye, 354 
Hemorrhoids, 297-300 
Heredity, 180 
Herpes, 81, 82 
Herpes zoster, 323-325 
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus, 324 
Hiccough, 101, 102 
Hives, 233, 266-268 
giant, 266 

Hoarseness, 103-105, 145 
Hormones, 399. See also Ductless 
glands 

Hornet, sting of, 11, 12 
Hydrophobia, 13-15 
Hyperacidity, 98-100 
Hypochondriasis, 269, 270 
Hysteria, 86, 87 

“Imaginitis,” 269, 270 
Impacted fracture, 28 
Incomplete fracture, 28 
Indigestion, 98-100, 105-107, 135, 181, 
242, 245, 278, 351, 399, 406 
Infants. See Babies. 

Infection in burns, 35, 37 
in colds, 204, 205 
in coryza, 216 
in erysipelas, 236, 237 
in influenza, 271, 272 
in malaria, 282, 283 
in tuberculosis, 392 
in typhoid fever, 350 


INDEX 


419 


Infection, mouth, 332-335 
Infectious diseases, 391-393 
Inflammation of the kidneys, 185-187 
of the sciatic nerve, 321 
Influenza, 32, 41, 216, 271, 272, 302, 
304 

Ingrowing toe-nail, 338, 339 
Injured person, transporting an, 378, 
379 

Insects, bites and stings of, 11, 12 
Insects in the ear or nose, 64-66 
Insomnia, 273-275 
Inspections, health, 380 
Instruction, prenatal, 382, 383 
Insulin, 222 

Internal secretions, 399. See also 
Ductless glands 

Intestinal obstruction, 50, 109, 110 
Iodide of potash, skin eruption due to, 
268 

Iodine in first-aid kit, 372 
Iodine, poisoning from, 129, 130 
Iodoform, skin eruption due to, 268 
Itch, 83, 84, 276 
barber’s, 311-313 
Itching, 276, 277 
Ivy poison, 111, 112 

Jacksonian epilepsy, 86, 87 
Jamaica ginger, 372 
Jaundice, 245, 278, 279 
catarrhal, 279 
Jaw, dislocated, 60 

Joints, inflammation of the, 175-177, 
319 

Kidneys, disease of the, 185-187, 317 
Kit, first-aid, 54, 371-373 
Knock-knees, 310 

Laryngitis, 103-105 
spasmodic, 51, 52 
Leg, bow, 310 
broken, 27-29 
Leucorrhea, 280, 281 
Lice, body, 83, 84 
head, 83, 85 
Lightning stroke, 71 
Litter, making an improvised, 379 
Lobar pneumonia, 303 
Lockjaw, 113-115 
Lumbago, 116, 117, 305 
Lung motor, 7 

Lungs, foreign bodies in the, 43, 118, 
119, 159 


Malaria, 259, 279, 282, 283, 295 
Malignant tumor, 345, 346 
Malnutrition in anemia, 173, 174 
Mastoid disease, 70, 170, 203, 282, 283, 
319 

Maturity, 392-395. See also Adoles¬ 
cence 

Measles, 32, 41, 47, 186, 286, 287, 393 
Membranous croup, 50-54 
Menopause, 398-400 

Menstruation, difficult, 120, 121, 280, 
281 

Mercury, skin eruption due to, 268 
Midol, skin eruption due to, 268 
Migraine, 263 

Milk in diet, 171, 174, 314, 315 
Moles, 357, 358 

Morphine, skin eruption due to, 268 
Mosquito bites, 282, 283 
Mouth breathing, 169, 170, 328, 329, 
341 

Mouth infection, 332, 335 
Mouth-to-mouth inflation, 5, 6 
Mucous colitis, 204-208, 212 
Multiple neuritis, 294 
Mumps, 41, 286-288 
Muscular rheumatism, 305 
Myxedema, 250, 336, 337, 403 

Nail, injury from rusty, 54 
Narcotic drugs in asthma, use of, 10 
Nasal catarrh, 31, 32, 68-70, 105, 169, 
188, 196-198, 216, 272, 285, 329 
Neoplasm, 345 
Nephritis, 185-187 

Nervous breakdown, 181, 289, 290, 325 
Nettle-rash, 266 
Neuralgia of the back, 116 
of the chest, 24 
of the heart, 24 
Neurasthenia, 265, 289, 290 
Neuritis, 291-294, 322 
Neurosis, 8 

Niter-paper, 10 [64-68 

Nose, insects and foreign bodies in the, 
Nosebleed, 122-124, 348, 398 

Obstruction, intestinal, 49, 108, 109 
Opium, skin eruption due to, 268 
Orange juice for babies, 386, 390 
Oxygen tank, 7 

Painful periods, 120, 121. See also 
Difficult menstruation 
Palpitation of the heart in anemia, 172 


420 


INDEX 


Pancreas, 401 
Paralysis, 125-127, 259 
Pasteur treatment, 13, 15 
Pediculosis capitis, 85 
Peristalsis, 56 
Perspiring feet, 78-80 
Pes planus, 239, 240 
Petit mal. See Epilepsy 
Pharyngitis, 143-145 
Piles, 295-298 
Pimples, 182-184 
Pinkeye, 128, 129 
Pinworms, 363 

Pleurisy, 39, 41, 47, 272, 299, 302, 304 
Pneumonia, 39, 41, 47, 272, 279, 286, 
302-304 

Poison ivy, 111, 112 
Poisoning, 130-132 

carbolic acid, 130, 131 
drug, 266-268 

food, 133-135, 266-268, 295 
illuminating gas, 7 
iodine, 130, 131 
ptomaine, 133-135 
wood alcohol, 130, 132 
Pollen of flowers, 9 
Polyneuritis, 294 
Polypus, nasal, 9 
Preacher’s sore throat, 144 
Prenatal instruction, 382, 383 
Pruritus, 276, 277 
Ptomaine poisoning, 133-135 
Puberty, 294-297 
Pulmotor, 7, 61, 62 

Pus-forming conditions, 4, 150, 175, 
203, 306, 307, 321, 333, 334, 371 
Pyogenic growths, 150 
Pyorrhea, 332, 335 

Quinine, skin eruption due to, 268 

Rabies, 13, 15 
Resistance, weakened, 4 
Respiration, artificial, 5-7, 61-63 
Rhachitis, 309, 310 
Rheum, salt, 230-233 
Rheumatic fever, 305 [306, 322 

Rheumatism, 175, 177, 252, 259, 305, 
articular, 305, 306 
muscular, 305 
sciatic, 321 

Rheumatism in children, 307, 308 
of the back, 116 
of the joints, 306, 307 
of the throat, 143-145 


Rhus toxicodendron, 111 
Rickets, 309, 310 
Rigg’s disease, 332-335 
Right living, 409-413 
Ringworm, 311-313 
Rose cold, 260, 261 
Ruptured blood-vessels, 354-356 

St. Anthony’s fire, 236-238 
St. Vitus’s dance, 256, 308 
Salivation, 316, 317 
Saltpeter, fumes, 8, 10 
Salt-rheum, 230-233 
Salvarsan, skin eruption due to, 268 
Sausage, poisoning from, 132 
Scalds, 34-37 

Scarlet fever, 32, 41, 47, 175, 186, 295, 
307, 318-320, 391 

Schick test for diphtheria, 226, 227 
Sciatica, 294, 321, 322 
Seasickness, 136-138, 195 
Seatworms, 363 
Secretions, internal, 401 
Shingles, 323, 325 
Shock, 139, 140, 149 
Shoes, importance of proper, 239, 240 
Shoulder, dislocated, 59 
Sick at home, care of the, 375-377 
Silver nitrate, skin eruption due to, 
268 

Sinusitis, 203, 265 

Sitz bath, 280, 281 

Skin, foreign bodies in the, 88, 89 

Skin imperfections, 404 

troubles due to food and drug poison¬ 
ing, 266-268 

Skull, fracture of the, 89, 91 
Sleep-walking, 326, 327 
Smallpox, 199, 295 
Smothering, 5 
Snake bite, 141, 142 
Snoring, 328, 329 

Soda, bicarbonate of, in first-aid kit, 
372 

Somnambulism, 326, 327 

Sore throat, 103-105, 143-145, 229, 290 

Spasmodic laryngitis, 51, 52 

Spasms, habit, 255, 256 

Speech defects, 328, 329 

Spider, bite of, 11, 12 

Splinters, 54, 55, 88, 89 

Splints, improvised, 27, 29 

Sprains, 146, 147 

Stammering, 330, 331 

Stifling, 5 


INDEX 


421 


Stings of insects, 11, 12 

Stomach, ulcer of the, 212, 351-353 

Stones, gall-, 212, 241-245 

Strains, 146, 147 

Strangulation, 5-7 

Stretcher, improvised, 29, 379 

Stroke, 125-127 

Stunned, 148, 149 

Stuttering, 330, 331 

Styes, 150-152 

Suffocating, 5, 62 

Sulphonal, skin eruption due to, 268 
Summer asthma, 260, 261 
Sunburn, 153, 154 
Sunshine, value of, 343, 409-411 
Sunstroke, 157-159 

Surgical cleanliness, 35, 38, 54, 55, 73, 
88, 89, 94, 95, 113, 115, 368, 392 
Suspended animation, 61 
Swallowing foreign bodies, 43, 158, 159 


Tan, 153, 154 
Tapeworm, 361-363 
Tears, 54, 55 
Teeth, 332-335 
Tetanus, 86, 95, 113-115 
Threadworms, 363 

Throat, sore, 103-105, 143-145, 229, 290 
Throttling, 5 

Thyroid gland, 248-250, 336, 337, 401, 
403 

Tics, 255, 256 

Toe-nail, ingrowing, 338, 339 
Tonsilitis, 305 

Tonsils, enlarged, 69, 105, 145, 170, 218, 
285, 290, 329, 340, 341 
Toothache, 160, 162 
Tourniquet, 13, 15, 18-20, 373 
Tracheotomy, 43 
Trachoma, 253, 254 
Transporting the helpless, 378, 379 
Tubercular arthritis, 176 
Tuberculosis, 175, 286, 342-344, 392, 393 
disinfecting after, 392, 393 
value of air and sunshine in, 343, 344, 
393 

Tumors, 345, 346 
Turbinate, 9 


Turpentine as poison, 186 
Typhoid carriers, 347 
fever, 32, 39, 41, 175, 279, 295, 347- 
350 

Ulcer of the stomach, 212, 351-353 
Unconsciousness due to apoplexy, 125- 
127 

due to blow on the head, 147, 148 
due to epilepsy, 46, 234, 235 
due to fainting, 74, 75, 139 
due to fit, 46, 85, 235 
due to head injury, 147, 148 
due to hysteria, 86, 87 
due to shock, 139, 140 
due to sunstroke, 155-157 
Undernourishment, 47, 173, 174, 309, 
310, 355 

Urine, examining the, 380, 381 
Urticaria, 266-268 

Vaccines in asthma, 10 
Varicella, 199, 200 
Varicose veins, 298, 354-356 
Veins, enlargement of the, 356 
varicose, 298, 354-356 
Ventilation, 343, 409-411 
Vertigo, 163, 164 

Vinegar, white wine, in first-aid kit, 
372 

Voice training for speech defects, 330, 
331 

Vomiting, violent, 107, 165, 166 
Warts, 357, 358 

Water, drinking, for babies, 389, 390 
Weak foot, 239, 240 
Weaning of babies, 384, 385 
When to call the doctor, 367-369 
Whites, 280, 281 

Whooping-cough, 32, 41, 359, 360 
Widal test, 348, 349 
Wood alcohol poisoning, 129, 131 
Wooden arm, 49 
Worms, 277, 361, 364 
Wounds, 94, 95, 371, 372 
gunshot, 94, 95 
Wrist drop, 292 
Writer’s cramp, 49 














• I 


£ 



V 





















n, 19 * 







< 



* 







l 




1 




